Russian samovars and other old utensils so popular among the foreign tourists are abundant at the stands of Arbat Street .
Photo: Andrey Golovanov
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Ahead of All the Planet
May 24, Moscow has been declared tourism capital of the world by the results of 2003 Inter-Arab competition. This was announced at a presentation held in Beirut May 24, by the largest Arab business edition Al-Iktisad val-Amal. The Russian Capital was called a most preferable place for tourism in all the Eastern Europe. Beside Moscow this title was also granted to Paris and Dubai.
At the award ceremony, Moscow Government was represented by Chairman of City Tourism Committee Grigory Antyufeev, who said after he got the prize: “This is, of course, a very joyous event, considering out interest in solvent Arab tourists. On the other hand, the fact that Moscow is among prize-winners is quite natural. Tourism and its development is one of the priorities of Moscow Government and is being well financed.”
According to Antyufeev, up to 7% ((about a billion dollars) of the city’s annual budget comes from tourism. In 2003, Moscow was visited by over 2.5 million foreign tourists. The program of tourism development provides for the increase of tourists up to 5 million people by 2010. However, this figure will be reached much earlier, “considering the investment boom in the city.”
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