Lithuanian shopping centers which are hugely popular among Russian and Belarusian tourists have calculated their profits.
In H1 2015, tourists from Russia spent there less by half that in the same period of 2014, and for the first six months of 2016 – less by another 15 percent. In both periods given, Belarusian guests’expenses on shopping in Lithuania decreased steadily – by 13 percent each time.
“Due to the war in Ukraine and the weakening of the ruble the number of Russian tourists grew less, then we felt the consequences of the Belarusian ruble devaluation. But nevertheless, [the tourists from] these two countries remain our major customers,” explains Denis Grinevičius, Director of Global Blue company that provides VAT refund services to non-EU buyers.
The influx of tourists from Russia was 15 percent less than in the first half of 2015, from Belarus – by 13 percent.
belsat.eu, following delfi.lt
