OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2010. Vologda hosted the IXth North Gate inter-regional exhibition of tourist service and hospitality technologies organized by the Committee for Tourism of the Vologda region and tourist and information centre of the Vologda region together with bodies of the state executive authority of the Vologda region at the support of the Ministry for Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation, Federal Tourism Agency and Committee for Tourism of Moscow.

Despite of the complicated economic situation, this year the exhibition was more scaled and imposing: about 50 collective stands and 170 participants (compared to 126 last year) from Vologda, Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Arkhangelsk, Kirov, Tver, Kostroma, and Karelia. In business activities of the exhibition there have taken part about 30 delegations from the Northwest and Central regions of Russia. During one day of its work the exhibition has visited by more than 6 thousand people. North Gate has also become a platform for a meeting of travel industry professionals, exchange of opinions on the most pressing issues including implementation of a complex of anti-recessionary measures and development of recommendations for further development of travel industry.

Separate expositions of the trade fair presented tourist potential of areas of the Vologda region and other regions; recreation and sports tourism; hunting and fishing; hotel business of the region with presentation of investment projects; health-improving rest for children.

During the meeting of tour operators of Russia on the subject of Promotion of New Tourist Products Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Tourism of the Vologda region Vladimir Osipovsky has noted that inbound tourist flow in the region grows. In 2009 it has made 1,36 million people (+2% in comparison with 2008), 73.5% of tourists come for the cultural and cognitive purposes. Thus, in the opinion of experts, today in the Vologda region it is involved about 30% of total potential tourist capacity.

Business program of the exhibition was followed by round tables: Cooperation between Regional Tourist Information Centres of Russia in Promotion of Tourist Products; Prospects of Hunting and Fishing Tourism Development, Experience and Prospects of Implementation of the Long-Term Target Program Veliky Ustyug, Native Land of Father Frost regional seminar. A session of the Committee for Ttourism of the North-West Association was held.

Traditionally, the Republic of Karelia takes active part in work of the exhibition. The Committee for Tourism of the Vologda region has provided a free-of-charge six-square-meter stand for representatives of our region. This year our republic was represented at the exhibition by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Karelia, Intourist-Petrozavodsk Joint-Stock Company, Zarechnaya hotel, Dvortsy sanatorium (the Marcial Waters Spa), Art-Travel, Ltd. Participants of the exhibition have pointed out the growing interest to tourist offers of Karelia.