Tourism industry website TripAdvisor recently ranked Moscow fourth on its list of "15 destinations on the rise," and the Moscow government will invest $11 million into developing tourism in the city this...

... during a presentation in Moscow Friday. Russian government officials are pushing the foreign corporations toward the regions, particularly the North Caucasus, but no agreements have yet been signed. Top executives from infrastructure, construction, tourism and leisure investors Dalian Wanda Group and China Oceanwide Holdings Group concluded a second visit to Russia in less than a year this week. Moscow, Krasnodar region, the Dagestan republic and Irkutsk are particularly promising, vice president...

... weekend to protest the forthcoming monthlong championship. The young woman, Yulia Kovpachik, 23, is a member of the Kiev-based Femen women's rights group, which believes that the Euro 2012 tournament being played in Ukraine next month will encourage sex tourism. Kovpachik strode up to the silver, 60-centimeter-high trophy, which was on display as a tourist attraction in an open-air exhibition in central Kiev, ostensibly to be photographed alongside it like hundreds of other sightseers. But she then...

... IHG Academy this spring. During a three-year course, 15 to 20 students will spend four days a week working at one of the IHG-brand hotels in Moscow (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn) and one day studying at the Moscow State University of Tourism. At the Baltschug Kempinski, new employees go through orientation and "people business trainings" that teach them how to approach guests, then start working alongside a mentor, training manager Zlata Nikolayeva said in e-mailed comments...

... streets and abandoned bunkers tucked into hills. Still, visitors keep flowing into Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. "Twenty years ago there were three tour firms here. Now there are more than 100," said Tamara Tatushkina, the region's former top tourism official. A range of agencies offer helicopter flights to the world-famous Valley of the Geysers. Adventurous winter athletes also board Kamchatka's helicopters for a chance to heliski, descending as many as eight different peaks in a single day...

... Your Career! UIC Sydney Degree Courses: • Bachelor of Business • Bachelor of Accounting (CPA & IPA Accredited) Central College Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas: • Accounting • Business • Multimedia • Information Technology • Travel and Tourism Metro English College English language Courses: • General and Academic • Cambridge Fist Certificate in English (FCE) GCA Campus Facilities: • Modern Building • Natural Light in all Classrooms • Close to Transport — Opposite Redfern Railway...

... Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” in which he plays a wildly anti-Semitic Kazakh television host making a documentary about the United States, was banned in the country. But the country's foreign minister later thanked the filmmakers for boosting tourism to the country. 179742

... country," SkyTeam official Alfredo Frassoni said in a statement. "The majority of SkyTeam airlines fly to Moscow, and the Go Russia Pass enables customers to visit multiple cities in one trip, maximizing the potential for business travel and tourism."   Cities included in the discounted fare include St. Petersburg, Surgut, Tyumen, Nizhny Novgorod and Vladivostok. Aeroflot joined SkyTeam — which eases bookings involving more than one airline and offers members a system of bonuses...

... a move seen as another attempt to replace a regional governor before direct gubernatorial elections go into effect this fall. Alexander Khudilainen, 57, was nominated by President Vladimir Putin to become the acting head of the Karelia republic, a tourism hot spot bordering Finland, after the previous governor, Andrei Nelidov, resigned, it was announced on the presidential website. Nelidov, who was nominated in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev to head Karelia, was considered among the least...

Four Russian bikers have been detained in Iraq, possibly on suspicion of spying, prompting a surge of concern at home. Four Russian bikers have been detained in Iraq, possibly on suspicion of spying, prompting a surge of concern at home. The Russians — who were riding their motorcycles through Iraq on a Central Asia-Middle East road trip — were stopped as they approached Baghdad on Sunday and apparently taken into custody at an Iraqi military base, news reports said Thursday. The bikers...

... system and prosecution agencies. Apart from that Surkov will continue to be in charge of innovation, but he passed the social issues portfolio to Olga Golodets, who will oversee demographics, health care, education and labor, as well as youth policy and tourism. Arkady Dvorkovich will answer to Medvedev concerning agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, environmental issues, energy and industry — excluding defense, which will remain the area of Dmitry Rogozin’s expertise. Dmitry...

... Singapore, in particular cash-flush Chinese. Vladivostok, just 2 1/2 hours by plane from Beijing and known more for its oil and gas pipelines, will face competition from Asian countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, which are setting up similar tourism and entertainment zones. Russia's state-owned Nash Dom Primorye said at the Global Gaming Expo in Macau on Wednesday that it is seeking private investors and companies to build casino resorts in a six-square-kilometer area in Vladivostok. One...

... political analyst Alexei Titkov, however, suggested that the role of regional elites was minimal in Yeroshchenko's appointment. Titkov predicted that it could be difficult for Yeroshchenko to gain authority over the local elites after coming from the tourism business. This year, federal authorities have replaced 21 unpopular governors whose terms would have expired in the next few years, thus delaying direct gubernatorial elections in those regions, Levchenko said. Several more dismissals are highly...

... types of infrastructure, including, inter alia, roads and roadside service facilities, public transport, railways, pipelines, sea and river ports, airports, hydraulic structures, public utilities, as well as medical, educational, cultural, sports and tourism facilities. However, prior to the latest changes, widespread use of the Concessions Law was impeded due to the fact that it did not allow the contracting parties — the state and the investor — to hold any negotiations with relation...

... after angering Azeri authorities by meeting rights activists critical of the host country’s human rights record. Opposition groups have used the Eurovision spotlight, intended by Azerbaijan to promote the oil-rich country as a destination for tourism and business, to demand democratic reform and the resignation of the government. Dozens of peaceful protesters have been arrested this month in Baku. Activists say some buildings in the center of the city were torn down to make way for the Eurovision...

... Sokolov used to be chief of the Cabinet’s industry and infrastructure department for the past two years. He previously worked in the St. Petersburg city government. Vitaly Mutko held on to his sports minister job. The ministry lost its “tourism” responsibility. Alexander Konovalov remained justice minister. Former Deputy Emergency Situation Minister Vladimir Puchkov received promotion to be the minister. Writer and chairman of the previous State Duma’s culture committee Vladimir...

... your camera to capture the spectacular panoramic view of the city. While you're here, step inside the Savior on the Waters Church, which is located nearby and has an acclaimed collection of religious icons. What to do if you have two days A number of tourism companies organize multiday tours of the surrounding Murmansk region, giving adventurous travelers a chance to hike, kayak, fish, cross-country ski and snowmobile in one of the most ecologically diverse areas of Russia. Kola Travel (+7 815-367-1313;...