Sochi is expecting a significant influx of tourists from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, thanks to the introduction of direct air service between Manama, Bahrain, and the Russian resort. Svetlana Kalinina, First Deputy Mayor of Sochi for Economy and Finance, announced this during a familiarization tour for the first delegation from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain visiting Sochi.
The first Gulf Air flight from Sochi to Manama and back is scheduled for June 3, 2024, with weekly flights on Mondays using Airbus A321 airliners, capable of carrying 166 passengers. These flights are expected to transport a substantial number of tourists from Saudi Arabia, potentially up to 80%.
Kalinina highlighted Sochi's readiness to welcome Arab tourists, noting that the city currently boasts more than 2,000 hotels of various standards, capable of accommodating 220,000 people simultaneously. Sochi offers a range of attractions, including well-appointed beaches, embankments, mountain trails, green forests, natural show objects, premium shopping centers with brand boutiques, and over 2,000 restaurants and cafes serving world cuisines. The priority now is to enhance the quality of service at the resort.
Yulia Maksutova, director of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) Center for International Tourism Development, reported that the number of tourists from the Persian Gulf countries in Russia has more than doubled, with further growth expected in 2024. Maksutova noted that Sochi fully meets the requirements of tourists from the Gulf countries.
The first delegation of tourists from the Gulf region arrived in Sochi, including seven bloggers and journalists from major publications in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. This familiarization tour is supported by the Center for the Development of International Tourism under the Program for the Promotion of Russia's Tourism Potential, aiming to work with influencers from friendly countries to showcase Russia's tourism potential.
Sochi, one of the most popular Russian resorts, is expected to attract 10 million vacationers by 2030, according to expert forecasts.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: bolotina-o/Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS