In the past the tourism infrastructure of the Russian capital, Moscow, did not have a reputation for being particularly efficient or good value. Now this is all changing.
The signs indicating the main sights and traffic routes are now in two languages, it was pointed out by Sergei Schpilko, Director of the Moscow City Committee for Tourism and Hotel Industry. Moreover average hotel rates are considerably lower than those in London, explained Moscow’s senior tourism promotion official at ITB Berlin 2013.
One thing is certain: the days of a shortage of hotel accommodation in this city of several millions are a thing of the past. Over the past two years capacity has increased by just under 3,400 beds. At the present time the 423 hotels with a total of 46,100 rooms can accommodate some 90,000 visitors. However, Schpilko reports that this figure does not take into account the city’s many small hostels and guest houses.
Last year the Russian capital recorded some 5 million overnights, and this figure is expected to rise to 5.4 million in 2013. As Moscow’s head of tourism points out, the city is well worth a visit for its massive range of cultural attractions alone: as well as the 94 parks and 182 theatres it also has 393 museums. The Jewish Museum and Centre for Tolerance opened as recently as last November. Housed in a former bus depot, it is intended to provide “a creative and interactive platform for a dialogue between different cultures” and, as Schpilko says, “The city is changing every day”.
