11/08/2019 16:26

Regional Markets Conquer Moscow at the 6th MITF

[IMG=19763-5527] The official opening ceremony of the 6th MITF exhibition, organized by the Moscow Government, was held on May 11th in the Exhibition Center Gostiniy Dvor. As planned before, Moscow Mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, the Minister of Economic Affairs of Madrid, Miguel Vilmonuevo and Chairman of Committee of Economic Policy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism of State Duma, Valeriy Droganov, hosted the ceremony. Thus, in 2005 3, 500 000 tourists visited Moscow, that is 19% more than in 2005, Luzhkov said, having pointed out that at the moment it is important to increase tourist flow to other Russian cities. The Exhibition, according to Luzhkov, is aimed at stimulating tourist flow to Russia given 80 regions participating in it. Furthermore, exhibitors divided opinions regarding the first day of MITF. Representatives of regional Tourism Offices and travel agents who did not participate in the exhibition before are excited about coming to Moscow. ‘Other travel fairs are expensive to participate. But here the Moscow Government gave as an opportunity of free participation and promotion of our region’, said Mikhail Fedkovich from Vorkuta. Meanwhile, ‘experienced’ exhibitors point out low attendance of the event. ‘We hope that other three days of the exhibition will be busier’, said Valentina Yusina, Representative of Pensaprofkurort. ‘There is a shortage of foreign companies. At MITT around 70% of exhibitors were foreign companies. However, we are interested in international contacts’, added Larisa Zhadaeva, Deputy of the Head of Sales and Marketing Department. On the other hand, some travel market players emphasize that lack of a crowd at the exhibition has its advantages – exhibitors and visitors can discuss business issues in a calm atmosphere. Besides, travel industry experts consider the 6th MITF to be less active comparing to previous exhibitions. ‘There is an impression that the exhibitors do not show much enthusiasm and are quite passive. Some stands are empty, without a representative’, explained an anonymous visitor. However, it is early to make conclusions as the exhibition works until May 14th. In general, regional travel markets players are optimistic: ‘we came to ‘conquer’ Moscow!’