Ilsur Metshin: “We need to pass the 5 million tourists mark, we can handle this task”

As part of the city anti-crisis headquarters, the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin held a meeting with representatives of the tourism industry yesterday. At the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, the most acute issues in the sphere of hospitality and the creation of new destinations to attract more tourists were discussed.

Market analysis: previously tourists stayed in Kazan for 2-3 days, now – for 5-6 days

“Today, the tourism industry of Kazan has a large window of opportunity, - I.Metshin said opening the meeting. – But it will not be possible to increase the tourist flow by old ways now. We have met with various business representatives in order to hear challenges first-hand, requests and various issues, as well to discuss the ways to solve the problems together. The success comes with a tenacity and hard work. The tourist image of Kazan is our team work”.

Last year, more than 3 million tourists visited the capital of Tatarstan. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Kazan has entered the list of leading tourist cities among Russians and foreign visitors.

A few years ago, people stayed in Kazan for 2-3 days, but recently tourists are booking hotel rooms for 5-6 days. Among the main places that tourists visit, representatives of the tourism industry noted restaurants, museums, embankments, as well as the historical center of the city.

Natalia Abramovich, Director General of Kazan Tourist Information Center LLC, noted that despite various economic challenges, the tourism industry of Kazan is preparing for the summer season with optimism. A decisive factor for increasing the indicators of domestic tourism was the alleviation of coronavirus control measures. In addition, market participants are trying to optimize their costs. “This measure does not imply a staff reduction, - N.Abramovich said. – Now restaurateurs and hoteliers see the lack of qualified personnel. Therefore, it is very important to work together with universities that train qualified staff”.

Zufar Gayazov, President of Tatarstan Association of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, also raised the issue of the lack of qualified personnel. According to him, on the eve the tourist season, one of the solutions could be short-term courses organized jointly with universities for retraining of personnel. The rector of the Volga State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism Rafis Burganov noted that the university has already developed a retraining program, which lasts from 16 to 700 hours, depending on the specialty.

A consolidated calendar of events and food trucks in parks

Vice-President of the Tatarstan Hotels Association Timur Khaibullin noted that a large number of sporting and cultural events were canceled in the city due to sanctions, but this does not prevent Russian athletes from coming to the capital of Tatarstan and performing at various competitions. “There are many sporting events taking place now, including the Russian Swimming Championships, world-class athletes, including Olympic champions, come to our city, but you can only find out about it from the news”, - he said.

Vyacheslav Grigoriev, Director of the Leader Kazan travel company, supported him. He noted that in order to attract tourists to Kazan, it is necessary to create new unique tours, as well as organize various festivals.

The Mayor of the city supported the idea of creating a consolidated calendar, which, in addition to the events of the Kazan Committee for Tourism Development, would include other interesting cultural and sporting events. I.Metshin instructed the Executive Committee to consider this issue.

Airat Garipov, founder of the Garipov Group Company, addressed the head of the city with a proposal to provide sites for the food trucks.

Ilsur Metshin supported this idea, but noted that the food trucks placement in public spaces is possible only on a competitive basis, after coordination with the Committee for Retail Markets and the Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan. In addition, the owners of restaurants have the opportunity to place their summer verandas free of charge this season.

Ildar Shakirov, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee, said that this summer entrepreneurs have the opportunity to place food trucks at the Uram Extreme Park, near the Millennium Bridge. I.Metshin instructed the head of the Executive Committee Rustem Gafarov to consider this issue.

In addition, the director of the souvenir shop “Legends” Vyacheslav Vdovin said that tourists less often use the restaurants and souvenir shops located inside buildings. He asked to give shop and restaurant owners the opportunity to exhibit their products on the street, observing the rules of the improvement of the city. The Mayor of Kazan instructed the head of the Executive Committee to make a decision on this issue in a short time.

In conclusion, the Mayor of Kazan thanked participants for a constructive discussion and noted that the common task is to preserve the tourist potential of the city and stimulate the tourist flow in the upcoming season. “New opportunities are opening up for the city now, but new creative ideas and approaches are needed for their implementation. We need to pass the 5 million tourists mark, we can handle this task”, - the Mayor summed up.