Moscow Tour Operators Overreached In Their Attempt To Enter The Samara Travel Market

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   According to Samara travel agencies, interviewed by a BANKO correspondent, May Holidays were rich in special offers. ‘For example, a 7-day tour to Antalya cost $250’, said Evgenui Anikin, the Head of Department of Samara-Aerotour. According to Andrey Denisov, Executive Director of Sputnik-tour, there were even more attractive offers for tourists from Samara: ‘thus, a 7-day tour to Antalya with 5* accommodation with All Inclusive system per double room was available for $800, while usually it costs $1800-1900’.
   Travel agents in the region explain such a tremendous drop in price by excess of air traffic volume to Turkey. ‘There are to many flights to Antalya at the moment. Moreover, a considerable number of charter programs were launched from Samara to Barcelona, Crete, Egypt’, stated Anikin. Furthermore, Andrey Denisov, added: ‘we do not have enough tourists in the city to fill all present charter flights! Pegas Touristik and TEZ TOUR operate four flights per week each that means 1200-1500 tourists every week’. ‘Last year air traffic volume to Antalya was twice as little’, said Elena Segal, General Director of Samara-Intour Travel Agency.
   Meanwhile, local travel market players explain excess of flights by the intention of Moscow Tour Operating Companies such as TEZ TOUR, Pegas Touristik and Sunrise Tour, to strengthen their positions in the region. Therefore, representatives of travel companies from Samara forecast Moscow tour operators will have to cancel some charter flights from the region. Thus, Elena Segal, emphasized: ‘I think, Pegas will either operate fewer flights or change the aircraft. Nevertheless, they might be ready to have losses only to enter a new market’.