The interest in event tourism among Russians since the end of 2021 and at the beginning of 2022 has grown by 50% compared to pre-pandemic 2020, becoming one of the key trends in the Russian tourism industry. This conclusion was made by specialists of the Space Travel tour operator after analyzing the number of implemented event requests from the end of December 2021 to mid-May 2022. According to experts, the most popular destinations for organizing Events are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the Maldives and Turkey.
The main event of the 2021-2022 season – the opening of the international exhibition Expo – 2020 significantly increased the sales of tours to Russians. In general, Expo 2021 was visited by more than 25 million tourists from all over the world. In addition, various thematic festivals, gastronomic exhibitions, and music concerts are held annually in October-November in Dubai. Last year, the tour operator Space Travel was the organizer of one of these performances with the participation of Russian performers. The budget of the event amounted to about
3 million dollars, including hotel booking services, transfers, and the organization of a variety of services at the request of customers.
From 9 to 12 May 2022, Dubai hosted the largest travel exhibition in the Middle East – Arabian Travel Market. Within its framework Space? Travel organized a business mission for partners from Russia, who met with representatives of the tourist elite of the Middle East and for the first time presented their proposals for unique products on the international market.
High interest in event tourism is also recorded in MICE destinations.
At the end of last year, Space Travel organized two large-scale Moscow theater festivals, which were attended by over 3,000 participants from different Russian regions. In addition, for the second year Space Travel organizes flights, accommodation, master classes and unique excursion programs for 400 participants of the new children's theater festival.
In many ways, a significant increase in positions in event tourism, according to Artur Muradyan, CEO of Space Travel tour operator, was provoked by numerous Western sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation: “Those who are used to a certain level of comfortable life, at the moment, are deprived of available sources of material and cultural values. An alternative way to achieve what you want is to go on a trip and at the same time resolve the issue with specific current needs. Now we are seeing an increased interest of Russians in event tourism related to holding events in the beauty/fashion industry, sports, and art. Many of our clients purchase tours dedicated to the opening of small and large businesses or the purchase of real estate abroad. Business international forums, biennials, conferences where Western and Russian businessmen find new interesting forms of interaction are especially popular today. It is possible that under the current sanctions, shopping tours or tours for expensive cars will resume. Therefore, we can say with confidence that, along with classical tourism, in the near future we will observe an active growth of the so-called associated tourism.
According to the forecasts of the tour operator Space Travel, a surge in activity in event tourism will occur at the end of summer – the beginning of autumn 2022. This is due to the holding of major international events, one of which, of course, will be the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha (from 21.11 to 18.12, 2022). Space Travel has begun active preparation of a unique offer for organizing a special tour for Russian football fans, which includes air travel, accommodation and transfer to matches and assistance in buying tickets for the Championship.
One of the stages of the legendary Formula – 1 will be held in Baku (Azerbaijan) from 10.06 to 12.06.2022. Back in early May, Space Travel noted the increased interest of Russians in this event. Russian tourists will have the opportunity not only to visit the legendary race, but also to purchase a tour with tickets to the VIP sector, which include: breathtaking views of the garages and tracks, VIP access to the track, a variety of entertainment inside the Formula 1 club, a walk around the pit lane and access to the Race Paddock support paddock. The Formula 1 Final will take place on November 20 in Abu Dhabi – Space Travel is also planning to organize a visit to the Grand Prix as part of a special tour for Russian Formula 1 fans in the UAE.
For those who want to visit the summer shopping festival and discounts Dubai Summer Surprises, which will be held from June 30 to September 3, 2022 in the UAE, Space Travel offers to combine a beach holiday and shopping. Festival guests will find surprises and activities for families with children, exclusive shopping offers, entertainment and mega lotteries.
From November 22 to November 26, 2022, the annual Jewelery Arabia International Exhibition will be held in Bahrain – one of? the largest of the prestigious specialized exhibitions for the jewelry industry in the Middle East region. On the? The exhibition will host a presentation of jewelry made of gold from other precious metals, fashion collections of watches from the world's leading manufacturers, precious stones from jewelry with precious stones, antiques and luxury goods. The portfolio of the Space Travel tour operator will include special combined tours, including hotel accommodation, transfers, excursions and visits to the exhibition.