Sergey Voronkov: ExpoForum generates 60% of the flow of business tourists in the Northern Capital

Sustainable development of tourism in Russia, including its convention and exhibition line, which forms 80% of the flow of all business tourists in St. Petersburg, was discussed on June 15 at the thematic session within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at ExpoForum.

Opportunities for tourism development in modern conditions, its medium- and long-term prospects, as well as the role of interregional projects in the socio-economic development of regions, were discussed by representatives of specialized government agencies and industry experts.

Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg Sergey Korneev noted that in the pre-pandemic period, foreign tourists accounted for almost ten times more turnover of the city’s hospitality industry. Today the average check of a Russian citizen for one trip to St. Petersburg is 39.7 thousand rubles, a tourist from CIS countries – 65 thousand rubles, from far abroad – 65 thousand rubles.

“Inbound tourism is one of the drivers of the industry’s growth. At the same time, there is little information about us as a tourist destination in foreign countries of the SCO and BRICS,” said Sergey Korneev, emphasizing the importance of uniting the efforts of the regions of the North-West to jointly promote the tourist product.

One of the priority types of tourism in St. Petersburg is business tourism, and convention and exhibition tourism in particular.

“15% of business travelers account for 40% of all revenues in the industry. Such a tourist spends 3–4 times more money on business trips, is prone to repeating trips and develops competencies in territories. That is why there is a competitive struggle between the constituent territories of the Federation for the key forums,” said Sergey Voronkov, General Director of ExpoForum International.

Whereas the development of historical and cultural tourism requires serious infrastructural investments in tourist facilities, the development of business tourism requires the events and at least one key convention and exhibition center[O-1] [a2] . In St. Petersburg it is ExpoForum, as the venue generates 60% of all business tourism traffic in St. Petersburg.

“The importance of business tourism is increasing in a period of economic reassembly, when business, politics, science, and education are oriented towards a new world geography and building cooperation. This type of communication is provided by the convention and exhibition events,” summarized Sergey Voronkov.

The thematic session was attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North-West Federal District Lyubov Sovershaeva, Auditor of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Natalia Trunova, and Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko. 

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Sergey Voronkov: ExpoForum generates 60% of the flow of business tourists in the Northern Capital

Sustainable development of tourism in Russia, including its convention and exhibition line, which forms 80% of the flow of all business tourists in St. Petersburg, was discussed on June 15 at the thematic session within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at ExpoForum.

Opportunities for tourism development in modern conditions, its medium- and long-term prospects, as well as the role of interregional projects in the socio-economic development of regions, were discussed by representatives of specialized government agencies and industry experts.

Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg Sergey Korneev noted that in the pre-pandemic period, foreign tourists accounted for almost ten times more turnover of the city’s hospitality industry. Today the average check of a Russian citizen for one trip to St. Petersburg is 39.7 thousand rubles, a tourist from CIS countries – 65 thousand rubles, from far abroad – 65 thousand rubles.

“Inbound tourism is one of the drivers of the industry’s growth. At the same time, there is little information about us as a tourist destination in foreign countries of the SCO and BRICS,” said Sergey Korneev, emphasizing the importance of uniting the efforts of the regions of the North-West to jointly promote the tourist product.

One of the priority types of tourism in St. Petersburg is business tourism, and convention and exhibition tourism in particular.

“15% of business travelers account for 40% of all revenues in the industry. Such a tourist spends 3–4 times more money on business trips, is prone to repeating trips and develops competencies in territories. That is why there is a competitive struggle between the constituent territories of the Federation for the key forums,” said Sergey Voronkov, General Director of ExpoForum International.

Whereas the development of historical and cultural tourism requires serious infrastructural investments in tourist facilities, the development of business tourism requires the events and at least one key convention and exhibition center[O-1] [a2] . In St. Petersburg it is ExpoForum, as the venue generates 60% of all business tourism traffic in St. Petersburg.

“The importance of business tourism is increasing in a period of economic reassembly, when business, politics, science, and education are oriented towards a new world geography and building cooperation. This type of communication is provided by the convention and exhibition events,” summarized Sergey Voronkov.

The thematic session was attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North-West Federal District Lyubov Sovershaeva, Auditor of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Natalia Trunova, and Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko. 

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