Domestic tourism in Russia rose by 1.3 million people in 2015 when compared to the previous year, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, the state-run TASS news agency reported Friday.
Speaking at the first meeting of the Coordinating Council for the Development of Domestic Tourism, Golodets also noted a decrease in the number of Russians traveling abroad in the same year.
?€?The amount of tourists in Russia who prefer to travel abroad has decreased by 31 percent ?€” or 5.6 million people. At the same time, domestic tourism rose by 1.3 million people for the year,?€? Golodets said, TASS reported.
The deputy prime minister said that the flow of domestic tourists reached 50 million people for the first time last year.
?€?We have many varieties of tourism, which have serious potential for development. Russia's tourism industry is ready for the 2016 tourist season,?€? she added, TASS reported.