Hopes for World Cup: effect at 20bl rubles, biggest chack-chack, and Zemfira concert
Tatarstan is preparing to meet guests of the World Cup, the capital of Tatarstan expects to receive about 200k tourists
Kazan is expecting to receive more than 200k tourists from June 14 to July 15, whose financial investments are estimated at 1,820bl rubles. Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan Sergey Ivanov urged to count not only money, but also not to forget about the PR effect because at least half of the world's population will see the broadcasts of the main football festival this summer from Kazan. Realnoe Vremya found out how Kazan plans to surprise the tourists.
Equipping with signs and training of guides
From June 14 to July 15, Kazan expects to receive at least 200,000 tourists from other regions of the country and from the World Cup participating countries. First of all, the State Committee was puzzled about improvement of infrastructure for foreign guests. ''We are equipping museums with signs in English, checking the availability of cashless payment terminals, updating the city navigation. Tourists should easily navigate and find what they need,'' said Chairman of the State Committee of Tatarstan on Tourism Sergey Ivanov.
At the same time, the effect of the World Cup on the city will be more powerful than of the Universiade, which was the first such experience for Kazan. ''The main legacy of the Universiade is the infrastructure, Kazan has become a different city. Now we expect a turnover of 18-20 billion rubles in the industry — this is the money that tourists will bring to Kazan. But there will be also a PR effect on the whole world, at least half of the world's population will see our city,'' Ivanov highlighted.
Over the past three years, additional 150 tour guides have been trained, they will tell about the city in Italian, Spanish, Chinese and other languages.
Director of the committee for tourism development of Kazan Daria Sannikova announced that the official tourist season in the city already opened on May 12. On the same day, the gastronomic festival ''Delicious Kazan'' started, which gathered more than 40,000 guests over two days. They want to repeat its success during the World Cup on 17 and 18 June, on these days they are going to prepare the largest in Russia chak-chak of 1,300 kg at the family centre Kazan during the gastronomic festival. They plan to register the record in the book of records of Russia and Guinness World Records. Records will be in everything, even in the length of the tablecloth — 150 metres, which will decorate the festival table.
Photo shoots in rickshaws
On May 1, Kazan launched a new tourist route along the left bank of Kazanka River, a new format of photo shoots was invented — in cycle rickshaws, which it is possible to ride around the city. A retro tram will be launched in June, they are also working on the creation of a special guide to the night city.
''We paid special attention to spoken English, recommended to extend the work of cafes and restaurants until two o'clock in the morning, to translate the menu into English. Representatives of catering industry reacted to this with great enthusiasm,'' Daria Sannikova told about the work with the catering industry.
In the cultural part, the guests of the city are promised maximum pleasure. ''So many exhibitions never worked on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin simultaneously before,'' Director of the Museum-Reserve Kazan Kremlin Zilya Valeeva said.
The exhibits from the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, Hermitage, State Historical Museum, ethnic museum, Kazan Kremlin will be presented in Kazan. Assistant to President of Tatarstan Olesya Baltusova urged everyone to attend the branches of the National Museum. However, not all of them will be opened by the beginning of the competition.
''The Sharif Kamal Museum is planned to be opened by the beginning of the academic year, there will be the memorial centre of Tatar literature, the Museum of Tukay has not opened yet, the works on the exhibits are under way. In the building on Baumana Street, 3, they are conducting preparatory restoration works on adaptation for the Russian Museum in Kazan, for the exhibition centre,'' Olesya Baltusova said.
The museums in the town-island of Sviyazhsk are switching to special summer working hours. They took into account the football theme — they promise to prepare FIFA salad at the horse yard.
''Grass lawn can not be used, we will prepare from a salad, instead of a football ball there will be eggs, we will include chak-chak, and a sauce — what exactly is a secret yet,'' said Director of the Museum-Reserve Town-Island of Sviyazhsk Artem Silkin.
The Bolgar historical and architectural museum-reserve listed the standard opportunities for tourists — from the Museum of Bolgar civilization to the embankment and the historical labyrinth. There are several ways to get there, although the scheduled start of navigation did not take place on April 30. According to Deputy Director for development of the Bolgar historical and architectural museum-reserve Lilia Safina, now the flights are operated every weekend.
''You can get by Meteor motor ship, they operate only at weekends so far, from June 1 the trips will be daily, and we will add one more trip at weekend,'' Safina announced.
Zemfira concert
Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan found it difficult to answer how much investment 2018 World Cup required.
''Financing goes in different directions. Part goes through the ministry of culture, part — through the city, part — through us,'' Sergey Ivanov admitted.
On July 4, at the fan festival near the family centre Kazan there will be a concert of Zemfira. However, judging by the information on the portal kassir.ru, the tickets will cost starting from 2,000 rubles. Performances of Therr Maitz and Mujuice are also expected on the same day.
''Entrance to the festival area is free for fans. As for Zemfira concert, I can't comment on. According to the general programme, on the territory of the festival of fans, I can say that we will show the scope of our flair and there will be special corners of participating countries,'' Daria Sannikova said. The names of other artists have not been disclosed.