From 9 to 13 September 2026, the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg organised an international information tour focused on St. Petersburg’s priority tourism sectors. The participants included about 40 representatives of tour operator companies, industry-specific media and bloggers from Brazil, Vietnam, India, China, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The event was aimed at promoting St. Petersburg as a modern, year-round tourist destination.
The information tour introduced foreign specialists to the cultural, business, event and gastronomic potential of Russia’s northern capital, and also facilitated direct contacts between foreign tour operators and St. Petersburg service providers. The information campaign covered friendly countries and confirmed strong interest in Russia as an attractive tourist destination.
A special business programme was arranged for tour operators. It became an important part of the information tour and enabled participants not only to become acquainted with the city but also to establish professional connections. The live dialogue format made it possible to discuss specific requests, exchange contacts and outline joint projects.
Participants were taken along a classic route and introduced to St. Petersburg’s main treasures. In the historic centre, they visited the Manege Central Exhibition Hall and ascended the colonnade of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, one of the city’s main observation platforms. At the Peter and Paul Fortress, the guests heard the legendary noon cannon shot, a tradition that rings out over the Neva every day. The imperial residences at Tsarskoye Selo, with the Catherine Palace and the Amber Room, Peterhof and Gatchina Palace, conveyed the scale and grandeur of Russian history.
In addition to the classics, participants saw sites representing the city’s new tourism geography. Foreign guests discovered modern St. Petersburg: the New Holland creative space, as well as the Sevkabel Port and Brusnitsyn clusters, which have become magnets for creative industries.
An important milestone in their introduction to modern St. Petersburg was the Lakhta Center. Participants ascended the observation deck of the tallest building in Europe and assessed the city from above, from historic districts to new architectural horizons.
“We want every guest to take a piece of its soul away from St. Petersburg. Our city has enormous tourism potential: majestic palaces, modern creative spaces, and the unique atmosphere of the white nights and drawbridges. Tour participants saw how St. Petersburg residents live, and we hope they will become our goodwill ambassadors. Russia is attracting increasing attention, and St. Petersburg is its main gateway for millions of tourists,” noted Evgeny Pankevich, Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg.
Guests of St. Petersburg took home not only new knowledge but also vivid emotions.
“Thank you very much to the wonderful team of St. Petersburg for making our visit so memorable! From the excellent city tours to the time spent together, everything was well thought out and made the trip truly enjoyable. I am leaving St. Petersburg with wonderful memories and immense gratitude to everyone who made this journey possible,” said Mohammed Salahuddin (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
“Thank you to the team for organising a wonderful trip to St. Petersburg; I truly enjoyed exploring this amazing city and its history. It was a pleasure to make new friends. Come to Oman!” said Bhagat Bhavna (Oman).
“Every part was interesting and useful. We hope to see you and everyone in the group again soon,” said Thuy Van (Vietnam).
“We express our sincere gratitude for the enormous efforts that made our mission successful. You worked tirelessly to ensure the programme was excellently prepared. We wrote the truth exactly as we saw and experienced it,” said Karim Murtada (UAE).
“Many thanks to the entire St. Petersburg team for making this experience so special! I am returning with incredible memories, new friends and many vivid moments,” said Hrituraj Badrinarayan Mishra (India).
Official Links:
Official Website of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg:
https://www.gov.spb.ru/gov/otrasl/c_tourism/
VKontakte (VK): https://vk.com/c_tourism
