On the eve of the Kazan BRICS summit, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Committee on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development Sangadji TARBAEV answers the questions of New Eastern Outlook.
– Sangadji Andreevich, how active is the interaction between the relevant parliamentary committees of BRICS countries, including newcomers, today? What current issues are being discussed?
– As a rule, communication takes place within the framework of bilateral visits of parliamentary delegations. For example, the last meeting took place just a month ago in Cairo, with deputies of the House of Representatives of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Prior to that, there were meetings with colleagues from China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, etc. We communicated closely with the deputies of the Brazilian National Congress within the framework of the Russia-Latin America International Parliamentary Conference, where issues related to all aspects of interaction between our countries were considered.
A distinctive feature of BRICS is that it is an association of states for economic interests and not an integration bloc with a fixed set of obligations with a certain deadline. Therefore, there are not so many issues that are relevant to all BRICS countries without exception. The pressing issues in tourism are the facilitation of visa regimes, the cancellation of visas, the availability of direct flights, the tourist attractiveness of certain regions, types of tourism, the problem of seasonality, the possibility of accommodation and quality of service and, of course, security issues. It is important to understand that what is relevant in tourism for one BRICS country, may have been decided long ago or is not so important for another. For example, in relation to Latin American countries, the visa issue is not relevant – Russians are allowed visa-free entry to almost all countries of the continent for 30 or even 90 days. Such negotiations are still underway with China and India, though.
– At the recent first BRICS Tourism Forum, it was said that the share of tourism in the economies of BRICS countries should be increased at least twofold. What specific steps may aid this process?
– There are heavyweights in the field of tourism within BRICS, for example Egypt or the UAE, and there are countries, let us say, that are not so far along this path. Almost every BRICS country has its own peculiarity, so to speak, a brand feature, thanks to which it is most famous. On the one hand, this is usually the main direction of the development of the tourism industry in the country, like carnival in Brazil or pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia, and on the other hand, they set stereotypical ideas about the country, which sometimes make it difficult to see its true potential.
Therefore, task number one is the exchange of relevant information. Our country absolutely needs high-quality promotion of its tourism potential in the international arena. Russian travel companies and organisations should actively promote their services and attract the attention of foreign tourists so as to make tourism in Russia more competitive on the international market. Our country has a huge tourism potential in almost all areas, from the offers of megacities in business formats to ecotourism in the lost corners of nature, from treatment and wellness services to the organisation of major international festivals in the spheres of culture and sports. By the way, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that BRICS countries do not often have the opportunity to host major international competitions, such as the World Cup or the Olympic Games. China and Brazil have managed to make themselves known in this field more often than others, but in general, these events, which attract crowds of tourists from all over the world, are more often held in Western countries than in the countries of the Global South.
Hence task number two: alternative international competitions and new large-scale events that can become points of attraction for tourists.
The main difficulties in attracting foreign tourists to Russia remain visa issues, since obtaining a multiple-entry and/or long-term visa to Russia is a rather lengthy process, often requiring additional documents confirming the purpose of the trip. Since August 1, 2023, citizens of 55 countries have been able to apply for an electronic one-time visa to Russia for entry for tourist, business and humanitarian purposes. Over 540,000 foreigners have used this format in a year. However, we would like to see more impressive indicators. Therefore, one of the proposals made at the Eastern Economic Forum was the wish to extend the validity of the visa and cancel payment for it. I can only support such a proposal.
– Two years ago, an initiative was born within the walls of the State Duma to create a new international tourism organisation with BRICS at its base. This year, at the financial and economic forum in May, dedicated to the year of Russia’s presidency in the association, you up brought this idea for discussion again. What will the BRICS tourism organisation look like, how do you see its goals and objectives?
– I would see a new tourism organisation within the framework of BRICS as an annual conference with a permanent secretariat and the opportunity to assemble quickly to solve urgent problems. The goals of the organisation should include all the issues listed previously: ensuring security in the movement of tourists around the world and their accommodation, solving complex visa issues and transport problems, exchanging experience and information, discussing and supporting the organisation of major international events. It should be a working tool that allows for quickly offering help and resolving difficult situations.
– How would you assess the prospects for the introduction of a simplified visa regime within BRICS member states? Maybe we should at least start with a ‘businessman card’ and ‘tourist card’?
– This issue could become one of the first decisions of a future tourism organisation. Our goal is the free movement of both business and ordinary tourists between BRICS countries. There are already such examples: a mechanism has been launched within ASEAN that allows business partners to easily move around the countries of the bloc, which, by the way, contributed to the flourishing of the MICE industry (business tourism combined with other types of recreation).
The idea of creating a ‘businessman card’ was previously supported by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov. I believe that the ‘tourist card’ should appear after the business card. A businessman who attended a business meeting will – faster than others – become the ‘returning tourist’, deciding to return to a sure place for vacation.
We could use the experience of the World Championship and develop a format for simplified visas. A sort of BRICS ID would significantly facilitate logistics for tourism purposes within the association.
– Is it possible to talk about any significant increases in the tourist flow between BRICS countries today?
– Yes, statistics show a significant increase in the number of tourists in BRICS countries over the past year or two. China is ahead of the whole planet here, but an influx of tourists is also being recorded in Brazil, Egypt, etc. The number of incoming tourists in Russia is also growing; the past season has confirmed this. For example, Saudi Arabia issuing electronic visas for Russian citizens, as well as a Russian electronic visa for Saudis a year earlier, was a real achievement; the tourist flow increased notably in both directions. Surveys show that the majority of Russians (up to 83%) would like to visit one of the BRICS countries as a tourist.
– Speaking about medical tourism in Russia, it equals high-quality services and low prices, but the rules of staying in the country are not fully regulated. In the context of all this, in your opinion, what are the prospects for inbound and outbound tourism within the framework of BRICS?
– Yes, our neurosurgery, ophthalmology, cardiovascular surgery, treatment of paediatric and adult oncology, gynaecology, orthopaedics and diagnostics are respected with good reason. Another question is that they are still underpromoted. The world knows little about our capabilities in this field. Hence, the objective need for high-quality marketing, advertising and promotion of such products by tour operators and travel agents, who must navigate the market and be able to offer new leisure opportunities. We need a register of tour operators specialising in the provision of medical services and who know this market.
It is difficult to attract an active part of the tourist flow when solely limiting oneself to the provision of a range of services. Doctors should heal; promotion is the task of the tourism industry. As part of the updated national project ‘Tourism and the Hospitality Industry’, a separate federal project will appear defining measures to promote Russian services in the field of tourism abroad.
– Information has recently surfaced in the media that ‘the cities of BRICS member states may create their own informal association, which will contribute to the creation of common tourism products, digitalisation of services and exchange of experience’. How would you assess the need to create a Tourist Club of BRICS cities?
– In the summer, the BRICS Association of Cities was established as per the initiative of Russia. At the BRICS Tourism Forum in June, 2024, Moscow took the initiative to exchange existing practices between cities and urban agglomerations. Developing digital platforms and exporting technological capabilities is a great way to narrow the gap between our countries. Cities taking up this practice can only be welcomed.
– How ready is our tourism industry for a possible increase in the flow of tourists from BRICS countries? How are things with infrastructure, with the ability to pay with foreign cards and with guides that know foreign languages?
– The issue of making non-cash payments and paying for goods and services on Russian territory remains unresolved due to the restrictions imposed on our country due to the restrictions imposed on our country. There are solutions to this problem, but so far, none of them have proven themselves enough to become widespread.
The personnel issue also remains one of the key issues in tourism. We not only need to ensure inbound tourism, but we also need at least 400,000 middle and senior level specialists for domestic needs (320,000 in the hotel industry and 80,000 in the field of tourist services, i.e. guides, instructors, guides, tour operators, travel agents). As I have already said, in order to launch medical tourism, a concierge service is needed to create the offer and promote our services abroad. This academic year, more than 73,000 budget places were allocated in Russian universities in tourism-related areas. I am sure that everybody can find their place in tourism.
Sangadji Andreevich, we thank you for the comprehensive and interesting talk.
Interview conducted by Yuliya NOVITSKAYA, writer, correspondent of “New Eastern Outlook”
