In 2011, more than 200 thousand tourists visited Irkutsk, and its main draw remains its proximity to Lake Baikal and the chance to see Siberian nature. The citys tourism sector already makes a notable contribution to the economy, and experts say Irkutsk should promote its brand more actively, strengthen its online presence, and improve hotel and restaurant service. The article also describes the citys competitive advantages and the new tourism development program the authorities are preparing.
In 2011, more than 200,000 tourists visited Irkutsk, including 40,000 from abroad. According to the Siberian Institute for Tourism Planning and Development, the city is most often visited for business and recreational purposes. The main motive for coming to Irkutsk is its proximity to Lake Baikal and the desire to see the nature of Siberia.The city’s tourism market is represented by more than 200 enterprises of various forms of ownership. Their total turnover (based on the results of 2010) amounted to 1.215 billion rubles. The total contribution to Irkutsk’s economy is estimated at more than 3 billion rubles.
The city has a number of competitive advantages over its neighbors: its infrastructure is well developed, interesting excursions have been created, and monuments of history and architecture have been preserved. At the same time, experts recommend that Irkutsk’s tourism sector more actively promote opportunities for recreation in the city and improve service in hotels.
In particular, Irkutsk needs to create its own brand as a tourist destination, strengthen its presence on the internet, and keep and analyze tourism statistics more carefully. The issue of raising the level of hotel and restaurant service remains relevant.
This year, the program “Promotion of Tourism Development in Irkutsk for 2009-2012” comes to an end. The city administration is now beginning to develop a new document that should reflect current trends in the tourism industry market.