Travel Notes

For the first time since the

fall of the Iron Curtain, the number of tourists coming to Russia exceeded the number of Russians traveling abroad, Goskomstat reported. Last year, over 18.5 million foreigners visited Russia, including three million tourists (a 200,000 increase from 1998). Japan, Germany, Italy and Southeast Asian countries were cited as increasingly important sources of inbound tourism. The only country which sent fewer tourists to Russia in 1999 than in 1998 was the US.

The State Company Pulkovo won the prestigious award Wings of Russia ‘99 for Best Domestic Passenger Airline. Aeroflot won the prize for Best International Passenger Airline. Ulyanovsk-based Volga- Dniepr won for best cargo airline. The Wings of Russia prizes were established in 1997 to honor domestic airlines. Its sponsors are the MIG aircraft company, Rybinskiye Motory airplane engine manufacturer, Hewlett Packard, the Aerostar Hotel and others.

A representation of the Russian Association of Tourist Agencies and the Russian Ministry of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism has been opened in Washington. The representation is working under the auspices of the previously established Russian National Group, which will also represent the interests of the Russian Olympic Committee in the US.

The average cost of hotel rooms in Moscow ($238) is the highest of any European city, while average room prices in New York ($268) are the highest in the world, according to a report recently compiled by business travel consultants Bennet-BTI.