The hospitality industry made a significant contribution to Moscow’s economy during the New Year holidays
Moscow shares the achievements of its tourism and hospitality industry during this season’s New Year and Christmas holidays. From December 31 to January 11, the travel industry made a significant contribution to the city’s economy and secured income for a wide range of related sectors, including the hotel industry.
Analysts noted that its contribution to Moscow’s economy during the holiday season amounted to 178.3 billion rubles, which is 20 per cent more in comparable prices than a year prior. The travel industry contributed about 24.4 billion rubles to the capital’s budget. A significant portion of these funds comes from the expenditures that the city guests spent on accommodation, food, transportation, cultural events, and shopping.
The high occupancy rate of hotels and other accommodations was one of the important indicators of economic impact. On average, they were 82 per cent full, exceeding both last year’s figures and those of the 2019–2020 winter season. In the three-, four-, and five-star hotel segment, occupancy reached 80 per cent, increasing by five to six per cent compared to the previous season. During the peak days of the New Year holidays (January 3, 4, and 5), the city center hotels were 90–100 per cent occupied, which is close to the pre-pandemic statistics.
The growth in economic activity was accompanied by an increase in tourist flow. During the New Year holidays, Moscow was visited by 8.2 million guests, which significantly exceeds last year’s figures and pre-pandemic levels.
The residents of other Russian regions traditionally made up the main share of tourists who were visiting Moscow. The guests come mainly from St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai, the Republic of Dagestan, Sverdlovsk Oblast, the Republic of Tatarstan, Stavropol Krai, Samara, Chelyabinsk, and Novosibirsk Oblasts, as well as the Republic of Bashkortostan. Among international tourists, there were citizens of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, China, and India, as well as CIS countries — Belarus and Kazakhstan.
According to the Mostourism survey conducted in association with the Russian Field Research Center on the streets of Moscow during the winter holidays, the influx of tourists is вгу to the city’s high attractiveness in winter. The agency interviewed 879 Moscow residents and tourists aged over 18, and more than a third of respondents (32 per cent) named Moscow the best place to celebrate the New Year.
The New Year city decorations received a high praise both from the city residents and travelers. Interviewees particularly admired the Christmas trees and the large-scale decorations of key city locations, including Arbat, Manezhnaya and Red Squares, as well as the festive looks of selected buildings and cultural symbols, like TsUM and GUM shopping centers, and the Bolshoi Theatre.
89 per cent of tourists chose Moscow as their vacation destination because of the festive street decorations and the rich event program of the Winter in Moscow project, whose venues hosted 10,000 events during the holidays. Over 11.9 million people attended various winter holiday events. The attractiveness of Winter in Moscow was also enhanced by its social component: 78 per cent of tourists reacted positively to the holiday charity events.
A high consumer demand at holiday venues also played an important role in achieving a cost advantage this impressive. Two-thirds of travelers and tourists spent money while attending the Winter in Moscow events. According to the respondents’ estimates, their expenditure on average amounted to about three thousand rubles. Mainly, these were expenses covering food and drinks (57 per cent), and souvenirs and gifts: practically every sixth visitor bought the branded Moskva tea, and every seventh tourist bought souvenirs and Moscow-themed gifts.
Winter in Moscow is the key event of the season. The project is focused on strengthening community and family ties, creating the feeling of unity and mutual support, and helping those currently defending the Motherland. Thanks to its various entertainment programs that feature culture, sporting, and entertainment events, Winter in Moscow brings Muscovites and tourists of all ages and interests together, creating perfect conditions for creative growth, outdoor activities, and human warmth. Special attention is paid to supporting combatants and veterans of the special military operation and their families, as well as all those providing assistance to the front.