Address to the participants

Artur Nikolaevich Chilingarov

Coordinator of the Project “Saint-Petersburg — the Sea Capital of RUSSIA”
Member of the Supreme Council' Bureau of the Party “UNITED RUSSIA”
First deputy chief of the faction “UNITED RUSSIA” in the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the 5th convocation

Dear Colleagues!

I welcome the participants of the III International conference “Saint-Petersburg - the Sea Capital RUSSIA. Sea tourism”.

Every year the world cruise industry is attracting more tourists, increasing its rates by an average of 8% per year. It’s enough just to take a look at the map of the Russian Federation to understand how high the potential of our country is in development of sea, river and lake cruises: the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas, the Seas in the Arctic and Far East, the Volga and the Neva river, the Yenisey, the Lena, and the Ob, Lake Baikal and Lake Ladoga. Russia is certainly interested in development of sea tourism, which has become one of the most popular and booming forms of recreation.

It is necessary to create all conditions for the Russian cruise market to become a competent competitive member of a global tourism industry. Ports and coastal infrastructure should meet international criteria of security and modern service. Russian ports must be able to set down hundreds of passengers to the shore quickly and get them on the bus, carry the passport and customs controls, ensuring a high level of comfort. Modernization of sea and river passenger transport also plays a very important part in Russia's integration into the international tourism market.

III International Conference “Saint Petersburg - Sea Capital of RUSSIA. Sea tourism” is an effective basis to discuss and find solutions to issues of sea and river tourism development. I am convinced that the work of the participants of the Conference will be productive, and as a result we will see relevant recommendations and proposals that will be necessary in the activities of government authorities to promote tourism industry not only at the federal but also at the regional level.

I wish you successful work!

 

VADIM TYULPANOV

Chairman of the legislative assembly of Saint-Petersburg
Director of the Project “Saint-Petersburg — the Sea Capital of RUSSIA”

Dear participants of the Conference!

Water tourism is an important and especially promising direction of Russian and international tourism industry. Therefore, the ways of its development in recent years become one of the most interesting and topical subjects for discussion at the highest levels of government and business circles.

The North-West federal district includes a great number of rivers, canals, lakes and other water bodies. And St. Petersburg - the Sea Capital of Russia - is an essential element of the single abyssal system of the European part of Russia, pit provides opportunity of entrance to the Baltic and White seas and the Caspian and Black Sea basins for passenger and cargo ships. Advantageous geographical position of our city is an excellent basis for development of all types of water tourism and recreation of Russians and foreign tourists, and also helps to attract additional revenues, develop the city's economy, and create new jobs.

In 2011, the Government of the Russian Federation approved a complex of measures to open inland waterways for foreign vessels until 2015; this will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on the promotion of tourist water routes in Russia and increase in inbound tourist flows. According to our forecast, in 2011, the navigation season, which runs until October, St. Petersburg will be attended by more than 800,000 cruise and ferry traveling tourists, and more than 500 passenger ships.

III International Conference “Saint-Petersburg - the Sea Capital RUSSIA. Sea Tourism” will allow experts and representatives of legislative and executive authorities to assess the prospects for development of cruise and yacht tourism in Russia, to discuss problems and develop solutions at the interagency level. I wish the participants of the conference fruitful work, interesting discussions and fresh ideas!

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