Moscow region tourism competitiveness improving

<p>According to the UNWTO data, Russian Federation is among some of the most attractive tourism destinations. However, while the country has a great potential, the level of the competitiveness of the Russian tourism industry is rather low with Russia ranked 63-rd out of 140 countries.</p><p>According to experts, Moscow region captures about a 20% of T&amp;T potential power of the country. But at the same time, the level of it&rsquo;s competitiveness is equal low as for a hole country.</p><p>The aim of the current research is to improve the T&amp;T competitiveness оf Moscow region.</p><p>The current research consists of two main stages: desk research and expert interview.</p><p><em>On the first stage</em> the descriptive analysis of Russian regions as tourism destination was carried out; TTCI was adapted for the Russian regions as tourism destinations. Competitiveness indexes were than derived for each region based on a number of factors. At that stage mainly the quantitative data from open sources was used. Using adapted TTCI model, this research attempted to evaluate Russian regions` tourism competitiveness and identify each of 83 regions position in respect to other regions. As a result, a map of Russian regions tourism competitiveness was created.</p><p><em>At the second stage</em> the experts of TD management were interviewed to complete the qualitative part of the research.</p><p>The adapted TTCI model can be used as a tool for building a long-term development strategy for a Moscow region. This research suggests a number of practical recommendations aimed mainly at the regional officials and related profile committees.</p><p>The current research can be applicable as an instrument for annual regions rankings. Such practice may improve the strategy and planning for each region`s destination development which in turn may lead to increase in the level of tourism competitiveness for a whole country.</p><p>Present research has a number of limitations. First, adaptation of TTCI can be questionable in a number of aspects. Statistics used in this research are from open-source databases and therefore are not as precise as some of the data used in TTCI. Up to this point the qualitative analysis is yet to be done.</p><p>This research is limited to an adapted TTCI model. For comprehensive analysis of TDC the subject of destination competitiveness should be explored further. One of possible ways would be determining the most important factors and interrelations between them to help build even more comprehensive model of TDC.</p>