Tourist flow in Bashkiria amounted to almost two million people

For all leading indicators of the tourism industry, growth is observed in 2023 compared to last year. The tourist flow for 9 months amounted to 1.8 million people, which is 30.7% higher than last year’s level. According to forecasts, this figure should reach 2.3 million people by the end of the year. Paid services in the field of tourism were provided to the population for 11.9 billion rubles. The growth rate was 19%.

The Minister of Entrepreneurship and Tourism of Bashkortostan, Rustem Afzalov, reported on this at a meeting of the regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society.

In Bashkortostan, social tourism programs occupy a special place, for which the republic is one of the leaders in Russia. Project “Bashkir longevity. Tourism" is already the "calling card" of the region.

“This year, “Bashkir Longevity” has reached a new level - both quantitative and qualitative. The task we set for 2023 has now been practically completed. This year, we scaled the project to two new directions - the Republic of Belarus and Abkhazia. Tours to Belarus are held weekly. To date, 1,369 residents of Bashkortostan have already visited Belarus. Thanks to the advent of the direct flight Ufa-Minsk, travel is comfortable for our tourists. The tour program was developed taking into account their wishes. Based on the results of our trips, we received only positive feedback. Participants note comfortable conditions during travel, interesting excursions focused on the interests of the older generation, and a hospitable welcome. The program “Bashkir-Abkhazian longevity. Tourism" is under development. We have launched it in a pilot version for now. In October, a trial study tour to the Republic of Abkhazia was organized,” the minister said.

Following the trip to Abkhazia, a survey of project participants was conducted. Almost everyone noted that the tour fully met expectations.

Moscow and St. Petersburg are promising areas for further project expansion.

In Russia, the implementation of the school tourism program is being completed. Bashkortostan remains among Russian regions' leaders in the volume of federal subsidies (2nd place after the Moscow region).

In connection with the completion of the program, new options for developing school tourism are being considered at the federal level. School and student tourism were identified as promising areas for the region.

For students in grades 10-11 who were not previously included in the program's target audience, it is proposed to organize career guidance tours for enterprises participating in industrial tourism projects.

“As for student tourism, here we are working on joint projects with universities of the republic that do not require regional funding. We are talking about developing the implementation of specialized tours for students in popular areas: scientific and educational, ethnographic, sports, and industrial,” reported the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Tourism.

The head of the republic was instructed to discuss all new proposals of the department with the financial bloc of the government and the prime minister and then submit them to him for consideration.

Author: Azat Gizzatullin