Moscow may learn from St.Petersburg

In the next 2-3 years Moscow will have to solve most urgent problems of its tourist infrastructure. It would allow the Russian capital to become a city comfortable for tourist. The city's authorities may learn from the positive experience of St.Petersburg in resolving this task. Such was one of the main topics of the recent annual conference of Russian Union of the Tourist Industry.

This year St.Petersburg became 7^th among 25 European cities most attractive for tourism and 20^th in the wider world. There were a few key factors that allowed this achievement. Firstly St.Petersburg in the recent years got a significant facelift. One of the extensive city programs was dedicated to restoration of the historical facades of the buildings. Another program helped to develop modern city lightscape, showing the most important landmarks in the different light at night. Also important for tourism development was significant increase in the number of hotels and mini-hotels, including affordable, in the few recent years.

One of the key improvements in St.Petersburg was introduction of English-language signs in all the most important city sites and in the metro stations. Among the future tasks for the tourism development that the conference declared will be closer work with the authorities to further ease the visa regulations for the foreign tourists.