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Representatives of 60 countries, more than 1700 exhibitors gathered at the largest in North Europe travel fair. After tree days of its work the number of visitors has exceeded the record number having made about 60 thousand people. In total the fair was visited by about of 80 thousand people.
 

Karelia in the Finnish capital was represented by 12 travel agencies, Kizhi open-air museum, a company working in the field of Internet technologies, information tourist center and Ministry of Econimic Development.
 

- For the first time all our companies that participated in the action so prestigious were presented at the uniform stand of the Russian Federation, - Chief of the Department of economy and tourism development of the Ministry of Econimic Development Vladimir Gromov says. Of 80 square meters more than half of area was occupied with Karelia.

Karelian companoes looked quite decent. They had nicely decorated stands, prepared a plenty of information materials with new offers for tourists. In a word, they looked the best among Russian and many foreign participants. It was noted by the majority of participants and organizers of the exhibition, and also by the head of the Department for international cooperation of the Federal Tourism Agency Erzhena Mintasova.
 

The previous exhibition has shown, that interest of Finnish tourists to Karelia grows. Now reorientation of preferences from Estonia to our republic was obsered. Visitors of the exhibition liked many of our objects and offers, for example, the restored building of Winter's summer residence, cottages near it, reindeer sleigh racing offered to tourists. Druzhba Joint-Stock Company from Sortavala presented winter routes in Ruskeala mountainous park. Illumination at night there looks especially impressive against the snow-white background among the rocks.
 

There was a real pilgrimage to our stands. As Vladimir Gromov tells, on the first day of the exhibition even when the visiting time was over, visitors crowded at the Karelian exhibits. Very soon our stands were called Karelian street.
 

- Representatives of our travel agencies admitted, - he says, - that for the first time they realized that Karelia becomes an independent travel destination.
 

Besides Karelia, attention of the exhibition visitors was attracted to the stands of Slovenia, Norway, Iceland. Traditionally impressive looked exhibits of Brazil and Spain.
 

On the second day in business center there passed presentation of the Republic of Karelia. Vladimir Gromov has told both about brands of our northern land, and about new offers, accommodation places, new opportunities of reception of tourists, changes in the legislation of Russia regarding regulations of tourist activity. In particulatr, he spoke of the forthcoming this spring opening of Onego Palace hotel complex, Petrovsky hotel in Petrozavodsk, modern campings and hotels that recently appeared in the regions of the republic, and of building new objects. Representatives of travel agenciestold of new routes and offers.
 

For example, tours of Karelika company to the White sea where one may see white whales are of great interest. Travel agency of the White sea-Onego Shipping Company for the first time offers visitors of Karelia to travel across Onego lake in winter time, as the company has purchases hovercrafts. Next season Karelia tourist holding offers tourists a Kizhi Necklace route which includes visiting both the island of Kizhi, and some places nearby.
 

For the first time at this exhibition Karelia presented its national cuisine. Karelskaya Gornitsa restaurant offered tasty kalitkas (small Karelian pies made of rye flour unleavened dough), sandwiches with fish and with red caviar. Visitors of the exhibition also found drinks Petrozavodsk distillery to their taste.

At the exhibition representatives of the Karelian travel agencies have signed more than 200 contracts and protocols on intentions. There were much more professional contacts.

 

Having noted high level of work of Karelian participants of the exhibition, representative of the Federal Tourism Agency Erzhena Mintasova suggested to expand the stand of the Republic of Karelia at the international tourist stock exchange in Berlin on March, 5-9 this year.

Nail Shabiyev