In Russia, industrial tourism is increasingly seen not only as a way to promote enterprises but also as a tool for attracting investment. At a recent KazanForum session, participants noted that factory tours help find partners, attract investors, and address staffing needs. According to data presented at the event, tourists visited approximately 2,000 Russian factories last year.
Industrial tourism is becoming more than just a tool for promoting production at industrial parks – it is now a full-fledged mechanism for attracting investors, says Nikita Bakhcheyev, Managing Partner of Promplan Group. He notes that potential investors increasingly want to see actual production processes, operating enterprises, and existing tenants, rather than presentations and attractive renderings of future facilities. A personal visit to the site allows investors to assess the quality of infrastructure, capacity utilization, logistics capabilities, and business activity in the area. This format significantly increases trust, as investors can see for themselves how the project works in practice.
“For industrial parks, this is becoming a significant competitive advantage. When several sites offer similar facilities, conditions, tax incentives, and support measures, transparency and openness of the business often become the deciding factor. Showing working production facilities demonstrates not only the availability of infrastructure but also the site’s ability to attract and retain tenants. That is why many industrial parks are starting to focus on tours and live demonstrations of production, making industrial tourism part of their investment strategy,” notes Nikita Bakhcheyev.