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On the 11th of January ice copies of outstanding tourist attractions were officially unveiled in London and Moscow. At the Pushkin Square in the capital of Russia the ribbon was cut by Iosif Ordjonikidze, Deputy to the Mayor of Moscow in the field of international and foreign economic relations, Grigoryi Antyufeev, president of Moscow Tourism Committee, and a representative of London City Council. As is the tradition at such moments, it was announced that the event is intended to strengthen friendly ties between two cities and to stimulate tourist flow.
Meanwhile, Moscow travel agencies dealing with incoming tourism doubt this will really happen. Despite the fact that the figures presented by Moscow Tourism Committee show the international tourist flow has risen (during 9 months of 2005 3,3 million international guests visited Moscow which is 15% more in comparison with 2004), according to other experts, interest in Russian tourism has declined significantly. They put the drop in demand in 2005 at not less than 20%. Overpriced hotels, visa procedures and lack of security are among the main reasons for this decline.
‘We hope this event will stimulate tourist flow to Moscow but I think it is more reasonable to generate the interest in Russia by good inexpensive hotels rather than ice sculptures’, said Irina Solyankina, incoming Tourism Director of ‘Vand International Tour’. ‘I do not believe that ice sculptures will increase the number of international tourists. But I find it quite exciting that Moscow got its seasonal attraction. Unfortunately, it did not happen before the New Year holidays when the city was full of tourists’.
The giant ice sculpture will be at the Pushkin Square for an uncertain period of time – everything will depend on the weather. It is not possible to feel the symbol of London. According to Grigoryi Antyufeev, exhibits are not allowed to be touched, therefore Moscow Big Ben is fenced and watched by the police.
