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Foreign tourists hate Moscow’s traffic jams, admire night life

Last year Moscow welcomed 4.5 million foreign travelers

MOSCOW, June 5 (Itar-Tass) — Foreign travelers coming to Moscow loath the habit of local motorists to park their vehicles on the sidewalks, traffic jams and scarcity of public toilets, but they really admire the city’s nightlife, the head of the committee for tourism and hotel infrastructures, Sergei Shpilko, said at a meeting of the city government on Tuesday.

According to the official, an opinion poll by the institute of social marketing has found taht the rumors of guests’ massive criticism of Moscow’s services have proved grossly exaggerated.

“As many as 70 percent of the respondents who have arrived in Moscow from other countries said they would like to come here again for more, 89 percent will be prepared to recommend a trip to the Russian capital to their friends and acquaintances, and 82 percent are completely or basically satisfied by the quality of tourist services,” Shpilko said. At the same time he acknowledged that in relation to 4-5 star hotels this parameter was 94 percent, and for 2-3 star hotels, 71 percent.

“Our business class hotels are brand new, and criticism is mostly addressed to hotels that have not undergone upgrade since the Soviet era. A number of such hotels are beginning to be overhauled,” the official said.

He also added that foreign tourists were very critical of traffic jams, scarcity of public toilets, the remoteness of some parking lots for tourist busses and poor tourist navigation.

“Nine bus parks have been equipped. We are working on the layout of another 16. The number of street signs and information billboards will be increased after the corresponding concept has been agreed,” Shpilko said.

The city’s guests like the performance of their guides.

On the list of the worst impressions is the habit of local motorists to leave their cars on sidewalks. As for nighttime excursions about Moscow, their effect can be likened to a culture shock. Foreign guests very much like the city’s nighttime lighting and its clean streets. Some guests say night-time rides and strolls about Moscow have impressed them more than Rome.

Last year Moscow welcomed 4.5 million foreign travelers.