The delegation of tour operators from China to visit the Nizhny Novgorod region

Representatives of the tourist industry from China have visited Nizhny Novgorod oblast. The tour took place from 17 to 21 December. The project was organized within the framework of the program «Development of entrepreneurship and tourism of Nizhny Novgorod» by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship of Nizhny Novgorod oblast together with Nizhny Novgorod Tourist information center.

The delegation included managers and representatives of China leading travel companies:

Ma Jun is the director of travel company ETP COMPANY LIMITED (Hong Kong) which is a member of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Association of Chinese tourist organizations. The company focuses on the promotion and organization of tourism in Russia for tourist markets in Hong Kong.

Xiao Tszinlan is a leading specialist of EMEA Division of company GZL International Travel Service Ltd, former Guangzhou Tourist Corporation, one of the largest travel companies in southern China. It has more than 10 years of experience in outbound tourism in Russia.

Yin Tszyunyuan is a representative of Luoxiya International Travel Agency (Shanghai) in Moscow.

Huang Jing is the Deputy Director of the department of departure BEIJING FENGHUA ATC INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CO.LTD, one of the largest companies of international outbound and inbound tourism, approved by the National Office of Tourism and the Exit and Entry administration of the Ministry of Public Security of China.

Xu Xiaodong is the director of the Beijing branch of Dunchzhimen, that is, Easytour International Travel Service (Beijing) Co.Ltd travel corporation. The company is a leading expert in the field of inbound and outbound tourism.

Shi Yanjing, a Sales Manager BEIJING FENGHUA ATC INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CO.LTD, one of the largest international outbound and inbound tourism, approved by the National Office of Tourism and the Exit and Entry administration of the Ministry of Public Security of China.

During the five-day visit to Nizhny Novgorod oblast, the Chinese tour operators have spent two days in Nizhny Novgorod and visited tourist destinations, Semenov and Gorodets as well. The program of acquaintance with Nizhny Novgorod main tourist attractions included: visiting the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin; a walking tour in Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street; acquaintance with the Rukavishnikov estate; visiting Gorky Literary Museum and Kashirin House; tour of the city. Guests from China made a unique excursion on retro cars manufactured at «GAZ» factory to the museum of history of a plant as well as a tour round historical places of the city on an excursion tram.

On the third day, tourist industry professionals from China got acquainted with tourist potential of district centers of Nizhny Novgorod oblast. Guests were solemnly met with Mistress Kokhloma in Semenov: they got acquainted with the art of Khokhloma painting; visited factory «Khokhloma Painting»; met with artists and creators of unique world-famous masterpieces. Further on the program the guests went to the most ancient city of Nizhny Novgorod oblast, Gorodets, where they took part in folklore program «Gorodetsky Razguliay (literally, it means "revelry")», visited «Terem of Russian samovar» and museum complex «The City of Masters».

For several years, Nizhny Novgorod oblast manages big and methodical work on the strengthening tourist appeal of the region and creation of comfortable conditions for the stay of Chinese tourists. Therefore, the visit of the representative delegation of tour operators from China is important and forward-looking for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of tourism between Nizhny Novgorod oblast and China, that will contribute to the extension of economic and friendly relations between the two countries, Russia and China.

For reference: China is the most promising market for inbound tourism in Russia. More than 100 million tourists per year travel away from China. More than 570 thousand Chinese tourists travelled under a free-visa exchange to Russia for 8 months of 2016; comparing to 2015, the increase is 41%. Russia is the third most visited country in Europe. China lies in the first place in the world in terms of tourists' expenditures abroad. (According to the NPO «OMIT «World Without Borders» (2016), the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization (2016).