Address of the Vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry

"The Congress of the Russian Union of Travel Industry is traditionally held in Moscow. We only held it in Saint-Petersburg once - in 1998, in a cooperation with the INWETEX - CIS Travel Market. That was a very good experience, because INWETEX is one of the best exhibitions in Russia. In 1998, we combined three events - INWETEX, our Congress, and for the first time we held a conference "The incoming and internal tourism in Russia". Later the conference has become an annual event.

Our Congress is held once every two years. The year of 2003 is very important for us, because the Russian Union of Travel Industry (the Russian Association of Travel Agencies before) is celebrating its anniversary - the organization was founded in 1993. 2003 is also a very special year for Saint-Petersburg. So we made the decision to hold the Congress here.

Why we are holding the Congress right before INWETEX? Like I said, we've had an outstanding experience of cooperation, and it is one of the most well-known travel fairs in Russia, so the partnership is very beneficial.

First, we invite all our guests to the exhibition. Thus, right after the Congress they can begin realization of their projects through business meetings at the exhibition. That is very good, because we do not want the Congress' ideas and resolutions to remain in the stage of a theoretical discussion.

Second, we plan to have a collective stand for the RUTI members and organize several workshops, meetings and round tables at the exhibition, thus practically continuing the Congress' work.

At the Congress we will be discussing the results of the RUTI's work over the decade and future plans. Saint Petersburg is playing a very important role in RUTI's work, and we will be discussing the questions of incoming and outgoing tourism, investments in tourism, legal problems, hotels development and overall development of tourism infrastructure, promotion campaigns, and support and promotion of regional tourism programs.

This year the Congress will be an open event: we invite all organizations, tour operators, hoteliers etc. who are interested in working with Russia to participate. That will be a very good opportunity for building good business relations with Russian tourism community."

Sergei Y. Korneyev
Vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry
Chairman of the Regional Council
Director of the North-West Division Office in Saint Petersburg

Address of The Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli

The Secretary-General

Madrid, 5 August 2003

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION TO THE 9TH CONGRESS OF THE RUSSIAN UNION OF TRAVEL INDUSTRY

On behalf of the World Tourism Organization, representing the tourism interests of 147 countries and territories, I am pleased to greet the delegates and guests of the 9th Congress of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, RUTI, to be held on 30th September 2003 in the historical city of St. Petersburg.

We are proud that your Union is a loyal and enthusiastic Affiliate member of WTO and we are pleased with our successful cooperation.

The recent transformation of the Russian Association of Travel Agencies into the Russian Union of Travel Industry reflects its wider membership, the trends in the growing Russian travel market and the expanding role of your association, which has been recognized as the leading business alliance of the Russian tourism industry.

The strength of the Russian tourism industry and its active role within the global tourism community are also reflected by the fact that the Russian Federation is this year the Chairman of the governing Executive Council of WTO.

I am confident that the multi-faceted activities of your Union, in close partnership with the national tourism administration, regional authorities, legislators and other tourism actors will contribute to developing tourism in the Russian Federation on a sustainable basis, benefiting both tourism businesses and local populations.

I wish every success to the 9th RUTI Congress.

Francesco Frangialli

Press release

The Ninth Congress of the Russian Union of Travel Industry will be held in Saint Petersburg

It has been decided that the Ninth Congress of the Russian Union of Travel Industry will be held in Saint Petersburg in the end of September, 2003. For the first time ever the Congress will be open not just for the Union members, but for all companies dealing in tourism that are interested in working with Russian travel industry. Among the guests and participants of the Congress will be directors and representatives of major international tourism unions and travel companies. It is expected that directors of the WTO and UFTAA will participate in the Congress.

The participants will discuss a large spectrum of the problems that the travel industry faces. Major question will be the analysis of present situation and future perspectives for tourism development in changing political, social and economical conditions.

The questions of regional tourism legislature will also be discussed. Another cluster of problems to be discussed at the Congress - development support for regional tourism and, first of all, tourism in Saint Petersburg. Its anniversary will be later used as a model for consolidation of interests of Russian tourism businesses. The Congress will also summarize the results of the Union's work over last decade (the Russian Association of Travel Agencies, that later became RUTI, was founded on July 23, 1993).

The Congress will be held in the Fall, during a low tourism season, so as not to overload the city infrastructure in the Summer - the expected number of participants is about 400 people. Participation of such a number of directors of major tourism enterprises will become a great promotion campaign for Saint Petersburg as a tourism destination. The Congress will become a largest tourism event of a national level that will facilitate further development of tourism as well as interregional and international cooperation in the field of the hospitality industry.

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