Foreign investors are not ready to open their hotels to the APEC Summit

VLADIVOSTOK, January 22, vladivostoktimes.com Prospects of hotel segment of Vladivostok are not examined actively both by Russian and foreign investors, the press-service of AZIMUT Hotels Company reported to RIA PrimaMedia. Foreign investors are waiting for certainty with construction of hotel objects in the framework of preparation for the APEC Summit.

On results of the first half of 2008 the Primorsky Territory was included into the number of five Russian regions with the highest level of industrial production – 121.8% (on average in Russia — 105.8 %). The predicted growth of gross regional product on results of 2008 will amount at least to 5.8 %. In 2008 the Primorsky Territory was visited by almost 40 thousand foreign tourists. Officially the number of tourists falls (in 2005 it amounted to 125 thousand) as the stream of Russian dealers and Chinese citizens arriving to the region with commercial purposes is reducing. On each 100 tourists coming to the Primorsky Territory, 80 go to Vladivostok.

By an optimistic estimation, the number of tourists will grow to the Summit at least twice or three times in comparison with the current one, both because of business tourism and tourism for rest.

From July to September fullness of hotels of Vladivostok often exceeds 120%, sometimes it is even necessary to add some beds to rooms. In winter fullness seldom exceeds 15%. As a result average annual fullness amounts to 40%. To supply profitability of their business owners of hotels have to raise an average level of prices for their services.

In total in the city with 550 thousand residents, 39 hotels with the general number of rooms 4400 (taking into account sanatoria and recreation facilities, without them 18 hotels and 2200 rooms) are registered officially. From the whole number of hotels it is possible to refer the Korean hotel "Hyonday" to service level "4 stars." For a three-star category pretend: "AZIMUT Hotel Vladivostok," "Versal," "Gavan," "Akfes-Seyo." The most of hotels of Vladivostok have small room fund (to 100 rooms) and are focused on business tourists who form the basic article of their incomes.

In 2009 in Vladivostok hotels of a 3- star category - "Visit-Vladivostok" on 40 rooms and "Cleopatra" on 50 rooms should be opened. Besides, the French company Assog Group and American company Marriot International, and also the Korean and Japanese companies plan to open the hotels in the city in the nearest several years. Foreign investors are waiting for certainty with construction of hotel objects in the framework of preparation for the APEC Summit. According to official statements, at first it is planned to build 2 hotels – 3 and 4-star. Besides, it is not excluded that contest on construction of the 5-star hotel will be held.

At present moment in the framework of the federal purpose program of development of the Far East and Zabaikalye a subprogram “Development of Vladivostok as a center of international cooperation in the Asian-Pacific region” was accepted, financing of which amounts to 283bln Rubles, analysts emphasize.