Number of Tourists in Moscow Growing Rapidly

More than 1.7 million tourists visited Moscow last year, reported Grigory Antufeev, the Chairman of the Moscow Truism Committee at a press conference yesterday. In his estimate, this number will rise to 2 million in 2002, reaching almost 5 million by 2010. According to Mr. Antufeev, the 2002 tourist season will be opened by Mardi Gras Carnival, which is scheduled for Marsh 11-17.

As the Association of Business Tourism informs, more than half of all the tourists who came to Moscow in 2001 were businessmen. The Association began working on the Business and Russian Infrastructure project, aimed at promoting business tourism. On May 16-17 there will be held the First International Conference on business and infrastructure in Russia and the CIS states.