2021 Archive
History of the Russian Tourism Forum ‘Let’s Travel!’
The first Russian Tourism Forum ‘Let’s Travel!’ was held in Moscow at VDNH in June 2021.
The event was organized by the Roscongress Foundation, along with the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) and VDNH. The Forum was held under the support of the Russian Geographical Society.
“We co-organized the Russian Tourism Forum ‘Let’s Travel!’ and successfully discussed summer travel destinations, launching new support measures, and sharing the experience. Our agenda included investment, accessibility, vacation destinations—in fact, the entire range of issues we traditionally discuss at tourism events,” noted Zarina Doguzova, Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism.
Yulia Rybakova, Advisor to the Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism, Alexander Stuglev, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Roscongress Foundation, and Timur Zeldich, Commercial Director and Acting First Deputy Director General of VDNH, delivered welcoming remarks at the Forum's opening.
“The Russian Tourism Forum ‘Let’s Travel!’ is a unique communications platform that brings together experts, government and business representatives, renowned travel bloggers, and those that form actually the target audience of the tourism industry—people who want and love to travel within their own country. I am pleased that we held this event at a time when domestic tourism is undergoing a radical transformation. I am confident that holding the 'Let’s Travel!' Forum will eventually become a good tradition, allowing everyone to get to know our country's tourism potential better,” said Alexander Stuglev, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Roscongress Foundation.
Over 90 speakers took part in the discussions of the first 'Let’s Travel!' Forum, over 40 companies presented their booths at the Festival exposition, and over 2,300 guests attended the events on 11–13 June.
Leading travel bloggers participated in the event, including Bogdan Bulychev (Yaroslavl), Sergey Saimon (Moscow), Mikhail Shirvindt (Moscow), Olesya and Sasha Nikulin (Moscow), Valeria Podkovyrova (Crimea), Svetlana Krasnyakova (St. Petersburg), Tatyana Bedareva (St. Petersburg), Vladislav Sherengovsky (Moscow), and Alexey Zhirukhin (Samara). The bloggers shared tips with the participants on where to go, what to see, what resources to use, and, in other words, how to travel well.
The Forum's Business Programme covered a wide range of domestic tourism development issues, including expert discussions on Gastronomic Tourism. New Destinations, Camping. Outdoor Recreation Practices, How Regions Tell Their Story. Film Tourism – Unique Communication Tool, Auto Tourism in Russia. The 2020 Phenomenon, and Water Recreation for Everyone. Why Are Cruises Becoming Popular? The plenary session consisted of two sections: Development of Tourism Products and Services in the Regions of Russia and Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism.
Some of the expert discussions continued the topic raised during the session Tourism and Hospitality Industry: New Investment and Technological Opportunities for the Industry, which was held at the 2021 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
On the sidelines of the ‘Let’s Travel!’ Forum, National Tourism Technologies JSC, part of the Rostec State Corporation, and the Association of Tour Operators in Outbound Tourism TURPOMOSH (non-profit organization) signed a cooperation agreement to protect the rights and property interests of consumers of tourism products in the Russian Federation.
As part of the Festival exposition, the regions of Russia presented their tourist routes. The group exhibition area of the National Branded Routes of Russia included routes in Orenburg (the Horizons of Discoveries route), Chelyabinsk (Chelyabinsk: Even Meteorites Come to Us), the Altai Territory (Hello, Altai!), Kuzbass (Kuzbass – Fire in the Heart), and the interregional route The Sovereign's Road (over 780 km through the Moscow, Tver, Novgorod, and Leningrad regions).
Russian Railways and Transmashholding unveiled a model of a new capsule passenger car. The berths are 15 cm longer than traditional ones, and each passenger has a table, lamp, and USB port.
One of the highlights of the exhibition was the unique Pobeda Ultra Tank, created by auto blogger Konstantin Zarutsky (AcademeG). The Pobeda Ultra Tank consists of the body of the Soviet Pobeda automobile mounted on a modular tracked platform. The vehicle can reach speeds of up to 130 km/h, and its engine produces 400 horsepower.
Another vehicle was created right on the Forum site. The construction of the camper was monitored during a live broadcast by crafts blogger Nikolay Kurkin (@k2camper). In just a few days, he built a teardrop-shaped trailer, designed to accommodate two adults and two children at a time. The completed trailer drove off under its own power.
Forum guests had the opportunity to visit a VR cinema, where the film Russia: Virtual Journey, filmed using 360-degree spherical video technology, was shown. There were also screenings of the full-length documentary Atlantis of the Russian North, which introduces viewers to the unique historical heritage of the northern regions, far from the center.
The Russian Tourism Forum will be held again this year! The event will take place at the same venue from August 4th to 7th.
2021 Event Video Broadcast
Day One
Opening of the Forum and the Festival Exposition
Development of Tourism Products and Services in the Regions
IT: B2B and B2G Communications in Tourism
Auto Tourism in Russia: 2020 Phenomenon
Gastronomic Tourism: New Trends
How Regions Tell Their Story. Film Tourism: Unique Communication Tool
Day Two
Camping: Outdoor Recreation Practices
Water Recreation for Everyone. Why Are Cruises Becoming Popular?
Legal Intricacies in Tourism. How Can Tourists Protect Themselves?
How To Get Unforgettable Road Trip: 10 Important Lessons
Day Three
Where to Go?
Travel Photography: Basics and Secrets
Tree Houses: Harmony with Nature
