Putin: Contribution of domestic tourism to Russia's GDP must grow to 5%

MOSCOW. March 28 (Interfax) - The share of domestic tourism in Russia's gross domestic product must double "on the horizon of the current decade," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"As I said in the address to the Federal Assembly, annual domestic trips must grow almost twofold to 140 million by 2030," Putin said when speaking at a meeting dedicated to tourism development on Thursday.

To achieve this target, it is necessary to expand the range of affordable offers for consumers of domestic tourist services, he said.

"There is another very important goal, which was also mentioned in the address [to the Federal Assembly]. The contribution of domestic tourism to the country's GDP must grow twofold to five percent as early as the horizon of the current decade," he said.

In this regard, it is important that "virtually all the national projects will be functioning, one way or another," to stimulate the growth of tourism, Putin said.