The Russian government will additionally finance the tourist cashback program to fulfill the instructions of the country's President Vladimir Putin.

This was announced on Monday, April 26, by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

“The President ordered to extend the reimbursement of travel vouchers for all citizens until the end of the year.

Since last year, let me remind you, almost 1 million citizens have taken advantage of this program, they have received a refund of about 4 billion rubles, "- said Chernyshenko at a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

"Additional funding for the program in the amount of 4.7 billion has been agreed with the Ministry of Finance," he added.

Recall that the first stage of the cashback program for trips across Russia was launched at the end of summer 2020.

From 21 to 28 August, Russians were compensated 20% of the funds spent (but not more than 15 thousand rubles) for paying for trips around the country lasting at least four nights and no less than 25 thousand rubles.

To receive a refund, the tour had to be paid with a Mir credit card.

In the fall, the authorities launched the second phase of the program.

It was possible to purchase tours with cashback from October 15 to December 5, and go on a trip until January 10, 2021.

At the same time, the terms of the initiative were significantly expanded.

Thus, the duration of the trip had to be at least two nights, the minimum cost of the voucher was no longer limited, and the maximum refund increased to 20 thousand rubles.

In addition, along with hotels and tour operators, aggregator services were able to participate in the program.

In March 2021, the third stage of the tourist cashback program started in Russia.

The terms of the initiative have not changed - for traveling around the country, Russians are still refunded 20% of the cost of the tour, but not more than 20 thousand rubles.

In total, the government planned to allocate 2 billion rubles for the implementation of the new stage of the program.

At the same time, it was initially possible to buy a ticket with a discount until June 15, and to go on a trip - until June 30.

Meanwhile, on April 21, Vladimir Putin, in his annual message to the Federal Assembly, ordered to extend the program until the end of the year.

  • Vladimir Putin delivers a message to the Federal Assembly

  • kremlin.ru

Domestic travel refunds are driving travel demand and thus accelerating the recovery of the tourism industry.

This point of view in a conversation with RT was expressed by the executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Maya Lomidze.

“We conducted a survey from 18 to 25 March, in the first week after the start of a new stage of the program.

According to its results, more than 24% of respondents did not plan a vacation in Russia until they learned about the extension of the initiative.

Thus, the demand for travel packages around the country has grown by almost a quarter thanks to the cashback program, ”Lomidze emphasized.

As the specialist noted, the action of the initiative and its extension will have a positive effect on industries related to tourism.

Thus, restaurants, souvenir shops and museums will receive additional profits.

Against this background, in the regions popular with tourists it will be possible to observe a more noticeable increase in business activity, says Georgy Ostapkovich, director of the Center for Business Studies at the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge at the Higher School of Economics.

“People will come and provide consumer demand.

If tourists spend money - retail turnover increases, regional enterprises will have to produce more goods and services to meet the demand of vacationers.

In any case, due to an increase in consumer demand, the economy of the regions will grow by some percentage, ”Ostapkovich explained.

As RT was told in the travel planning service OneTwoTrip, among the bookings for the summer, the most popular destinations include Moscow (with a 21% share of booked air tickets), Sochi (12%) and St. Petersburg (10.7%).

In addition, flights to Simferopol (10.6%) and Anapa (4.3%), Krasnodar (3.9%) and Kaliningrad (3.4%) are in high demand.

At the same time, the average check for a flight in Russia for the summer of 2021 is currently about 9.4 thousand rubles one way, which is 11% less than a year earlier.

Such data RT was presented to the specialists of the travel and travel service Tutu.ru.

For children and youth

Note that in addition to extending the tourist cashback program, in a message to the Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin proposed to return half the cost of the voucher in 2021 when children travel to a summer camp.

According to Dmitry Chernyshenko, the government will allocate 5 billion rubles for the implementation of this initiative.

“Proposals will be placed in the second half of May this year.

Parents or their representatives will be able to purchase a voucher to a children's camp by bank transfer and receive 50% of its cost through the Mir payment system.

According to preliminary calculations, the parents of 357 thousand children will take advantage of the compensation, ”said Chernyshenko.

  • Children are engaged on the sports ground in the All-Russian children's center "Orlyonok"

  • RIA News

  • © Vitaly Timkiv

In addition, the authorities will allocate about 2 billion rubles for tourist trips of active youth, the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

According to the deputy head of government, this will help 230 thousand participants in the competitions "Russia - the country of opportunities", "Big change" and "Your move" to have a rest.

Such initiatives will help form the basis for the return tourism segment, said Maya Lomidze.

“The likelihood that, as adults, these travelers will want to return to the places where they vacationed as a child, will increase. This is not just a temporary tactical measure to improve the health of the young population, but also a long-term contribution to the development of the tourism industry, ”the expert concluded.