The Russian capital’s blend of heritage sites and modern attractions is proving an irresistible combination; compared to 2010 with 12.8 million visitors, the number of tourists to the city has increased by 84%. The successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup last year – which attracted 4.5 million tourists and recognised as the best ever by the FIFA Council – is part of the city’s long-term strategy to increase tourist numbers.
The Moscow City Tourism Committee – the official body promoting the city as a tourist destination – will be out in force at this month’s Arabian Travel Market (28 April – 1 May).
Moscow City Tourism Committee has seen tremendous interest in Moscow from international markets – and boosted in the Middle East including by reciprocal visa-free travel between Russia and UAE and Gulf airlines’ capacity.
Alongside its broad range of cultural attractions, the committee will be promoting its hotel industry – and this year it is scheduled to put 17 new hotels into service, four times more than in 2018. Gastronomy is becoming a new key driver with international visitors finding traditional and contemporary dishes to remind them of home.
Today in Moscow there are about 12,000 cafés and restaurants, twice more than 10 years ago. The city is covered with food halls, both in the centre and the outskirts, and foodies flock to Danilovskiy and Central Markets and Depo, the biggest food hall in Europe. Located on Belorusskaya train station, the 11,000sqm facility contains a wealth of independent restaurants and street food-style eateries.
Moscow is also now home to the programme of festivals, exhibitions, public holidays and celebrations as well as other cultural, sporting and gastronomic events called ‘Moscow Seasons’. Every day and whatever the weather, a whole array of entertaining activities awaits Muscovites and tourists – about 65 million people attended the Moscow Seasons festivals in 2018.
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