Russian inbound and outbound tourism has had a very successful year and has been little affected by the tragic recent world wide events. Russia has been placed among the top inbound tourism destinations for 2001 and according to the recent Conference & Incentive Travel agency survey, Russia ranks fifth in emerging destinations for incentive business travel. Local participation represents 30% of the entire exhibition and the international visitors will be eager to tap into this market over the 4 days of MITT.
The 60% consisting of international companies includes key players in the market such as Cyprus, Dubai, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Turkey who annually exhibit at MITT 2002. In addition, companies from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ireland, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Serbia and South Africa, who are relatively new or totally new to MITT will be actively marketing their destinations and tapping into the lucrative Russian outbound market.
This year the exhibition will cover over 29,000sqm gross and over 2,000 companies from over 100 countries and regions will be represented. Visitor figures are expected to reach 100,000 including trade visitors from the first 3 days and public from the final day.
MITT 2002 forms part of a whole week of activities centred round the Travel & Tourism industry of the Russian & CIS region. The week commences with the Ecotourism seminar "Ecotourism, a Tool for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century in the Transitional Economies of the CIS countries" on the 25th and 26th March. It is being organised by the World Tourism Organization and the Tourism Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, and partly sponsored by ITE Travel Exhibitions. Additional seminars include "Time to Visit Russia", a conference organised by the Tourism Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, RATA and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, dedicated to Russia's growing inbound market and "Persona Grata", the Travel Industry Conference on legal issues and licensing. Many other smaller seminars and presentations have also been scheduled for the exhibition.
The comprehensive programme of events also includes the ceremony for the 4th edition of the Russian Travel Awards. These awards are organised in conjunction with TTG Russia and every year they are developed to recognise new sectors of the industry and raise the profile of those adding most value to the travel market. The 2002 new categories include the Best Russian Outbound Tour Operator, the Best Russian Inbound Tour Operator, the Best Russian Domestic Tour Operator and the Best Russian Regional Hotel. This year Hertz will once again sponsor the Best Russian Travel Agency category.
"Russia has really been put on the map in terms of inbound and outbound tourism in the last few years and it is good to know that MITT and the authorities that support it have played an important role in its development," says Stanislava Blagoeva-Duschell, Director, ITE Travel Exhibitions. "The MITT team is dedicated to the event and through continued research, development and good service, the exhibition will maintain its reputation as the leading Travel & Tourism event in the Russia & CIS region."
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
