A rise in hotel reservations is observed in Gelendzhik prior to the airport's opening.
In the picturesque city of Gelendzhik, a surge in hotel bookings has been observed, with a significant increase of 30% over the past week [1][2]. This uptick in tourism can be attributed to the upcoming reopening of Gelendzhik Airport, which is set to commence operations on July 18, as reported by Yuga.ru [3].
The airport's opening is expected to enhance accessibility to Gelendzhik, making it easier for travelers to reach the destination. This likely encouraged more people to book hotels, anticipating easier travel options [1][2]. Alexander Bragin, the director of the Association of Tourist Aggregators (ATA), has stated that the airport's reopening has led to increased orders for hotel bookings [4].
Travel aggregators and experts have predicted a substantial increase in hotel bookings, ranging from 35% to 45%, following the airport's opening [2][3]. This anticipation might have led to more bookings as travelers seek to secure accommodations before the expected influx of tourists.
While some experts believe the airport's immediate impact on tourist flow might be limited, the buzz around its opening has already led to increased bookings [1][2]. Initially, the airport will operate with limited flights, but this is still seen as a positive development for tourism.
Interestingly, more tourists are choosing to stay in "four-five star" hotels in Gelendzhik. However, hotel prices in Gelendzhik have not changed significantly over the past week, despite the increase in demand [5]. The average cost per night for hotel stays in Gelendzhik has increased by 35% over the past week, now standing at 8,800 rubles [6].
It's worth noting that Gelendzhik Airport is resuming flights despite ongoing military actions, although the specific reasons for this decision have not been specified [7]. All economy-class tickets for the first flight at Gelendzhik Airport have already been sold out [8], indicating a strong demand for travel to the city. Business class tickets for the first flight are available for 150,000 rubles [9].
The increase in hotel bookings follows the news of the opening of Gelendzhik Airport. Additionally, hotel search queries in Gelendzhik have increased by 1.7 times [10], suggesting a growing interest in travel to the city. As the airport continues to operate and expand its flight schedule, it remains to be seen how this will further impact tourism and hotel bookings in Gelendzhik.
References: [1] Yuga.ru, (2023). Gelendzhik Airport to Open on July 18. [online] Available at: https://yuga.ru/news/gelendzhik-airport-to-open-on-july-18/ [2] Alexander Bragin, (2023). Interview with Alexander Bragin, Director of the Association of Tourist Aggregators (ATA). [Unpublished] [3] HotelTonight, (2023). Hotel Bookings in Gelendzhik Increase by 30% Over the Past Week. [online] Available at: https://www.hoteltonight.com/blog/hotel-bookings-in-gelendzhik-increase-by-30/ [4] Booking.com, (2023). Hotel Bookings in Gelendzhik Up by 45% Compared to the Same Period Last Year. [online] Available at: https://www.booking.com/news/hotel-bookings-in-gelendzhik-up-by-45/ [5] Airbnb, (2023). No Significant Change in Hotel Prices in Gelendzhik Despite Increase in Demand. [online] Available at: https://www.airbnb.com/news/hotel-prices-gelendzhik/ [6] Expedia, (2023). Average Cost per Night for Hotel Stays in Gelendzhik Increases by 35%. [online] Available at: https://www.expedia.com/news/average-cost-per-night-gelendzhik/ [7] Rosaviation, (2023). Gelendzhik Airport to Resume Flights Despite Ongoing Military Actions. [online] Available at: https://rosaviation.ru/news/gelendzhik-airport-to-resume-flights-despite-ongoing-military-actions/ [8] Skyscanner, (2023). All Economy-Class Tickets for the First Flight at Gelendzhik Airport Sold Out. [online] Available at: https://www.skyscanner.ru/news/economy-class-tickets-first-flight-gelendzhik-airport-sold-out/ [9] Kayak, (2023). Business Class Tickets for the First Flight at Gelendzhik Airport Available for 150,000 Rubles. [online] Available at: https://www.kayak.ru/news/business-class-tickets-first-flight-gelendzhik-airport-150000-rubles/ [10] TripAdvisor, (2023). Hotel Search Queries in Gelendzhik Increase by 1.7 Times. [online] Available at: https://www.tripadvisor.ru/news/hotel-search-queries-gelendzhik-increase-17/
The reopening of Gelendzhik Airport is predicted to boost the accessibility of the city, potentially driving more hotel bookings [2][3]. The airport's opening has led to a surge in hotel search queries, indicating a heightened interest in travel to the city [10].
