An average Russian, choosing for the vacations foreign countries, saves the money for it during the whole year. That’s why to cancel long-expected trip can force him only exceptional circumstances. So, what can frighten the Russians for canceling the trip?
ATOR Analytical Service conducted a survey which found that the Russians were mostly afraid of the war. 27% of the respondents would cancel their trips in case of the threat of war in the country for planned holidays. However, Lebanese-Israeli conflict in 2006 almost didn’t affect the interest of Russian tourists to the Israel, noting that the total number of the visitors decreased by 70% at that period. The same can be admitted concerning the political instability, which can provoke demonstrations, sometimes on a national scale and not always peaceful. Massive protest actions in Athens, Greece and Bangkok, Thailand, according to the opinion of the tour operators, didn’t make any impressions on the Russians. Despite the official recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to visit Bangkok, the tourist flow to the country doesn’t decrease. According to the results of previous studies, we found out that the price was the most important criterion – if it’s not high, and there is a possibility that everything will be fine, the Russian tourist is ready to risk.
After destructive tsunami in Indian Ocean, which washed away the resorts in Thailand in 2004, the Russians became more attentive to the weather forecasts before the trips. 21% of the respondents would cancel the trip due to the natural disasters: flood, hurricane, rainfall, snowfall and earthquake.
As for terrorist attacks, it stays on the 3rd place on the list. 17% of the tourists prefer to stay at home if before the trip appears the information about terrorist attacks in the area of planned vacations. The Russians are more inclined to trust the neighbours, but not mass media. For example if some friend arrived from Turkey where the hotel had been blown up, but nothing had happened with the person, it would seem to be a safe place a priori.
Such situation can be confirmed by the facts. The series of blasts in Spain in 2004-2005, Israel and Egypt in 2004-2006, Bali, Indonesia in 2002-2005 and Turkey in 2006, not even decreased the number of the tourists, but quite contrary increased the demand for the tours with discounts.
Meanwhile, the countries that were affected by the terrorism do all the possible things to protect the tourists. So, after the only blast in the hotel in Amman, Jordan 5 years ago, all the hotels were equipped with special metal detectors to check the luggage and carry-on of the guests.
The high crime rate and the lack of good medical assistance took approximately the same position in the survey (12% and 11% accordingly). Talking about the crime, which negatively affects the demand for the tours, we can admit a mixed situation. For example, in Brazil and Mexico sometimes there are more thieves on the beach than the tourists. However, the Russians prefer other countries, more likely because of long flights and high ticket prices, but not due to the probability of being robbed. To be objective, one can be robbed in any countries of the world: Italy, Tunisia or Argentina.
But the lack of medical assistance is an important argument. Being bitten by unknown tropical insect is a real possibility never to return home.
At the end of our rating of the reasons for cancelling the trip was the negative attitude of the local people. As for the remaining fearless 8% of the respondents, nothing can affect them to change the decision to go for vacations.
