A charter program to Riga starts for the first time
Thanks to impressive promotion and clever pricing, Latvia, along with other Baltic states, is demonstrating an impressive growth of the flow of tourists from Russia. In 2010 the amount of visitors from Russia grew by 67% compared to 2009. And in 2011 the tendency continues.
It's no secret that charter flights are among the main indicators of popularity of a destination and Latvia is no exception. During the New Year holidays, traditionally a high season for tourists, the first charter flight from Moscow to Riga will take off. Setting up charters is a real sign of the growing popularity of the Baltic state, which was always a popular holiday destination for many people in the USSR. Today they are the older and mid-age generations of Russian guests in Latvia. However, tour companies claim the youth is interested in Baltic states as well.
The consolidator of both sets of charter flights, which are the «New Year» one (from December 30th 2011 to January 3rd 2012) and the «holiday» one (from January 3rd to January 7th 2012) became the ABClub tour company, with Rixtravel Company as the receiving party and airBaltic airline as the «implementer».
«Two charters aren't that much, but we hope the first experiment will be a success. The flights are being booked quite well, around 35% of all seats have already been paid for and the demand is rising», - says ABClub's director general Anastasia Ginters. «For us this is the first charter experience. For airBaltic – the first tourist charter experience on the Russian market. The airline specializes on regular flights to various countries of the world and our clients have already been able to discover some of the privileges of working with this company», - she added.
The Moscow-Riga-Moscow flights will be carried out on a Boing 737 with a 142-seat capacity. ABClub's holiday programs, based on charters, are very international. Tourists are not only able to see Riga and spend the holidays in Jurmala, but can also visit Tallinn and Vilnius, tour around Helsinki and Stockholm (a ferry ride is necessary).
The New Year can be greeted in Riga (Radisson Blu Hotel Latvia annually pleases its guests with a spectacular New Year's show), in Tallinn, Lithuania's Druskininkai or on the Saaremaa island. Tourists are also able to choose from a number of other excursion programs, hotels and transfers. The price of New Year and Christmas tours which includes flights, accommodation and tour services is 499 euro.
Among the key advantages of Baltic states, highlighted by many Russian tourists, are the European cultural heritage, clean environment, good service and plain safe and sound rest. Many also outline the good matters of the locals and the ability to speak in a native, Russian language. Besides, Latvia is geographically close to Russia and can also be reached by train or even by car. By the way, Russian Railways is currently working on modernizing the infrastructure for the deployment of high-speed trains between Moscow and Riga.
According to the head of the Zharkov Tour company, Andrey Zharkov, at the moment trains are actually the most popular type of transport to Latvia for most Russians. «Trains are simply more convenient than airplanes. Not many of our clients prefer flying right now, but, of course, the start of charter flights can only be applauded. Hopefully, they will be in high demand», - Mr. Zharkov told RATA-news.