Travel Notes

Where are they going?

According to Russian government statistics released in March, tourism to Russia is facing a precipitous decline. In 2005, the number of foreign entry visas to Russia fell 17 percent versus 2004, to just 2.3 million, after having declined 9.2 percent from 2003 to 2004.

Yet the Russian State Statistics Service said the number of foreigners entering Russia had held steady over the past year. Apparently, an 18 percent rise in the number of business visa entries counterbalanced the tourist visa declines.

Irina Tyurina, of the Russian Tourism Union, in an interview with the Moscow Times, cited a poll of the Union’s 115 members which blamed falling tourism numbers on high prices, lack of modern tourist-class hotels, and Russia’s poor image abroad. In the same article, Sergei Sinitsyn said tour prices sold in the West had risen 20-25 percent each of the last two years.

Russia does very little to market itself abroad, spending just 3 million euros per year on tourism advertising, the Union reported, compared to Finland’s 26.5 million euros and Mexico’s 120 million euros. Even Romania spends more: 5.7 million euros. In most cases, 60-80% of what a country spends on foreign tourist marketing comes from state coffers.

Without spending more to market Russia as a tourist destination, the country will continue to attract only a tiny fraction of overall world travel dollars. World Trade Organization data indicate that Russia receives just 1.2% of all world tourist arrivals and only 2.2% of all European tour arrivals.

According to Union data, some 250,000 German tourists visit Russia each year, followed by about 125,000 Americans and a similar number of Italians. Tourism presently contributes $16 billion dollars to the Russian economy each year.

Getting the goat

The city of Tver will soon have a Goat Museum, Interfax reported, paying tribute to the quadruped which is a symbol for the ancient town. “Russia has many museums connected with cities’ symbols,” said Vladimir Lavrenov, head of the Tver regional heraldry commission. “In Tambov there is a museum of the Tambov Wolf; in Myshkin, there are the museums of mice and valenki. The history of Tver is closely connected with the goat, so why should we not immortalize this animal?”

The museum will be housed in Tver State University and opened later this year. Students at the university are presently researching all things goat and collecting exhibitions, which will include photographs, figurines, documents and possibly even stuffed animals. One of the main exhibits will apparently be a huge mirror, in which, one person told Interfax, people will be able to view “the main Tver goat.” Lavrenov said that there will be a sign at the museum entrance warning that only those with a good sense of humor are allowed in.

The expression “Tver goat” has long been a part of locals’ lexicon. “Many are embarrassed by this,” Lavrenov said, “...but the symbol of the goat is one of unbridled power, of freedom. He is the leader of the pack. We don’t need to avoid him. I feel that the Goat Museum will break down embarrassing stereotypes.” 

Rossiya falls

The mammoth Rossiya Hotel, which for four decades has loomed over Moscow’s Kremlin walls, is finally coming down. Deconstruction of the 2717 room hotel began in late March. A large retail and entertainment complex is to be built on the 30 acre site.

Flight plans

According to the Moscow daily Vedomosti, Aeroflot has plans in June to take over the struggling Pulkovo, Krasair, Sibir and Rossia airlines through share swapping deals. Aeroflot is Russia’s largest airline. The state has a majority (51%) stake in the company. Sibir and Pulkovo are Russia’s second and third largest airlines, respectively.

Peninsular cruises

This summer, no fewer than 12 cruise ships are expected to visit Kamchatka, according to Tamara Tutushkina, head of foreign economic relations and tourism for the region. The first cruise liner (Japan’s New Aska), Tutushkina said, will visit the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in July, carrying some 3,000 passengers.

Vladimir’s heroes

According to Rostur, Vladimir region will inaugurate a new festival this year: Bogatyr Celebrations. Brainchild of the region’s governor, Nikolai Vinogradov, the festival will call on each of five towns – Vladimir, Suzdal, Murom, Alexandrov and Gorokhovets – to designate a hero, around which will be created a scenario for the holiday events. The town of Suzdal has already made its choice: the stereotypical fool Balda (heroes like Ilya Muromets or Vladimir Monomakh are ruled out as “too serious”). Local officials are said to put great hopes in the festival, which will be held in September. 

Fountain of youth

The city of Odessa will unveil a new fountain on September 12, Mignews reported. But it will not spurt water, but wine. It will be made of bronze and resemble a grape vine surrounding two dancing female figures holding wine glasses. The fountain will spout three types of wine: white, red and sparkling, all free. (The wine fountain will be guarded around the clock.) 

More flights

Lufthansa continues to spread its reach throughout the former Soviet Union. Starting at the end of March, it added two weekly flights to Astana, Kazakstan. This summer, the airline will also add two more weekly flights to Almaty. At the end of April, Lufthansa began direct flights between Munich and St. Petersburg with an Airbus A319.