Gov't spends $3m on tourism

Annual expenses of the federal budget on the development of tourism in Russia amount to about $3m, while foreign tourists spent about $12bn in Russia, Natela Shengeliya, the head of the tourism department of the Russian Economy Ministry, told RBC. According to her, the federal budget has had a separate budget entry over the past two years, which envisages the allocation of funds to support tourism in Russia. She specified that these funds were mainly spent to advertise Russia, i.e. the production of video clips, ads, booklets, etc.

Shengeliya noted that Russia actively participated in foreign tourist exhibitions. This year Russia is to take part in 8 exhibitions, while next year in 12 exhibitions. She added that Russian regions were greatly interested in participating in such exhibitions.