Page 90 - RusRPTMar20

9.1.8​ Telecoms sector news
Russia could postpone the rollout of the 5G networks from 2022 to 2024
due difficulties related to frequency allocations and the imperative to use domestically produced equipment, Reuters reported on February 28 citing the strategic development director of state telecom major Rostelecom Alesya Mamchur. As ​analysed by ​bne IntelliNews,​ the introduction of the 5G network has been impeded by a lack of clear policy, decisions on framework frequency allocation, rollout strategy and the lack of cooperation within and with the private sector. The Digital Economy National Project planned to launch 5G in one pilot Russian city by 2021 and in ten cities by 2022. But the Kremlin chose unpopular frequencies for 5G rollout​ to drive home-made infrastructure development and could enforce the use of ​domestically produced servers only​.
9.1.9 ​Tourism sector news
The losses of Russian tour operators from the coronavirus epidemics are preliminarily estimated at RUB27bn​, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said in a report on February 28. “According to preliminary estimates, losses of the tour operators of the Russian Federation from all prohibitions of tour sales to various states, including Italy, have already reached 27bn rubles,” the association said.
Russia’s tourism sector is feeling the effects of the coronavirus with a drop in Chinese tourists​. The volumes of Chinese tourists arriving in Russia has swelled in recent years and they are among the top tourist groups in Russia. Russia’s Association of tourism industry says the industry could lose $40–50mn a month if Chinese group tours scheduled for February and March continue to cancel. Russia's total tourism earnings amounted to $11bn last year (0.6% of GDP), as it has emerged as a major hard currency earner for the country. The Kremlin has been working to boot tourism further and is in the process of easing the visa regime and introducing short-term tourist visas that can be applied for online.
Tourist arrivals to Russia surged by 20.5% in 2019, ​according to official figures cited by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) on February 17.
More than 5mn tourists visited Russia in January-December 2019, according to ATOR’s breakdown of Federal Security Service (FSB) border service data, up from 4.2mn tourists the previous year. The numbers come as Russia moves to simplify visa requirements for citizens of 53 countries next year and boost its tourism revenue.
Country-specific figures showed increasing tourist arrivals in Russia from all continents except Latin America. The top five countries where tourists came from remained unchanged since 2018.
China supplied the highest share of inbound visitors at 1.5mn tourists, an increase of 19% from 2018. Russia has introduced visa-free travel for Chinese tour groups and hired Chinese-speaking staff at airports and train stations to accommodate the surge.
Germany accounted for the second-most visitors with more than 520,000
90​ RUSSIA Country Report​ March 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com