This was reported by Sergey Voronkov, General Director of the EXPOFORUM International, President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs, at the press conference devoted to Petersburg International Tourist Forum Travel Hub. “Go Travelling!”.

“The share of business tourism is 12 % of the total tourist flow in St. Petersburg . It provides for almost 40 % of the entire industry income, aligns seasonality, increases investment attractiveness of the destination, involves scientific and business elite, generates tourist traffic and loads the whole tourist infrastructure,” Sergey Voronkov noted.

According to the data of a tourist barometer, in 2023 Petersburg will host 1.2 mln business tourists. 20 % growth as compared to the last year. This is explained by the similar growth of all major convention and exhibition events. St. Petersburg  International Economic Forum, St. Petersburg  International Legal Forum, St. Petersburg  International Gas Forum, Neva International Shipbuilding Exhibition and other projects have in average hosted by 20 % more visitors.

According to Sergey Voronkov, at the Travel Hub. “Go Travelling!” forum two thematic blocks are dedicated to the development of business tourism, and, in particular, to the increasingly popular industrial tourism. He also underlined that 6 excursions to industrial enterprises visited by more than 200 people were presented at the Forum-Exhibition “Russian Industrialist” that was held last week at THE EXPOFORUM, “This area has broad development prospects,” the speaker expressed his confidence.

The press conference was also attended by Nikita Kondratyev, Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia (online), Sergey Korneev, Chair of the St. Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development, Aleksandr Stuglev, Chair of the Management Board, Director of the Roscongress Foundation, Maya Lomidze, Executive Director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (online).