More and more foreign tourists to the Russian city of Tobolsk express interest in the thematic excursion called “Last Mile of the Romanovs Family”. According to the chairwoman of the Committee for Travel and Investments of Tobolsk`s administration Alexandra Strunkina, in 2008 the city will host the first group of tourists from Switzerland interested in this exact route.

At the beginning of August the city’s authorities applied to the local public with a suggestion of selling the things linked with the stay of the last Russian emperor Nicolas II in Tobolsk. The action is aimed at finding household goods, personal belongings, and other historically valuable things that could be used for creation of an exposition at the Museum of the Romanovs Family. The local authorities are also considering a possibility of financial reward for the exhibition items.

In believe Alexandra Strunkina`s data, 135 thousand guests visited Tobolsk in 2005, 143 thousand guests – in 2006, and this year the number of travellers is expected to increase up to 170 thousand people. The main category of the tourist traffic is schoolchildren (50%), middle aged people (30%), and pensioners (20%). Nearly 30% of all guests to Tobolsk are foreigners: citizens of the United States, France, Great Britain, and Kazakhstan.

“By the way, in mid August Swiss Consul to St. Petersburg Madeleine Lüthy is coming to Tobolsk with an exploratory visit. Her visit is linked with development and bringing to life Romanovs` Royal Family tourist route in Russia. It cannot be excluded that after the Consul’s visit Swiss tourists will become frequent quests of Tobolsk”, Alexandra Strunkina specifies.

According to her words, such objects as Tobolsk Kremlin, Abalaksky, Ilyinsky, and Holy Trinity monasteries also cause interest in foreign travellers. “Besides, the Tobolsk Region has unique tourist resources linked with the world-famous names and events. In particular, it is the legendary Ermak`s journey, culture and architecture of the old Siberian cities – Tobolsk, Yalutorovka, Ishima”, Alexandra Strunkina marks.

In recent years the local travel business specialists develop the names of the Romanovs Family, Mendeleev, the Russian writer Yershov as brands of Tobolsk. On the 9th of August 2007 the city organized “Royal Days” – action marking the 90th year (August 1917) since arrival of the last Russian emperor Nicolas II and his family to Tobolsk. The programme includes opening of a unique photo exhibition called “Family Album of the Romanovs” that contains over 500 shots.

The organizers of the memorial action are the government of Tobolsk, the administration of the city, the Tobolsk State Historic-Architectural Sanctuary, representatives of the Orthodox Church, and the Centre of Arts and Culture of Tobolsk.

Based on:     travel.newsru.com
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Lavrentyeva Natalya