Russia at ITB-2003 in Berlin

Russia's display at the ITB-2003 International Tourism Exchange excites interest and offers great opportunities for development, Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization said on Saturday night in Berlin, which hosts the world's largest International Tourism Exchange. He believes that the economic and political stability of the country contributes to rapid tourism development in Russia. According to the Secretary General, Russia's tourism business is growing at 7 per cent, twice as high as the world average and three times more than the European figure. The WTO Secretary General highly assesses what Russia has done for the organization that unites 140 world countries. He indicated that it had proved useful that Russia was elected chairman of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization last year. Tourism business in Russia is turning out to be more professional, Mr Francesco Frangialli said.