Russian cinema festival opening in Strasbourg.

STRASBOURG, March 10 (Itar-Tass) - The best films by Russian film
directors have been included in the program of the Days of Russian Cinema
that will be held in Strasbourg within the framework of celebrations of
the Year of Russia in France.

The event has been organized by the Russian Ministry of Culture and
the Russian General Consulate with support from the Strasbourg Mayor's
Office.
"The cinema forum which is being held for the ninth time has become
one of the brightest events in the cultural life of the two countries over
the past years," Russia Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov told
Itar-Tass.
"Its aim is bring our friendly peoples closer together. Art has been
uniting them for centuries," Orlov went on to say.
More than a dozen feature films, documentaries and short films will be
shown in Strasbourg. All the films will have Russian subtitles. Director
Karen Shakhnazarov will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony.
Days of Russian Cinema will last until March 21.

.Kazan to present a new tourist route at a fair in Berlin.

KAZAN, Republic of Tatarstan, March 10 (Itar-Tass) - Russia will
present a new tourist route called "Three Capitals of Russia" at the
international tourism fair ITB-2010.
The exposition's organizer is Sergey Pavlov, the head of Kazan's
Committee for Tourism and External Ties. He told Itar-Tass that the
exposition had been created by Kazan's mayor's office under an agreement
with the government of Moscow and St. Petersburg to develop a common
tourist route.
"It includes Moscow as a political capital of Russia, St. Petersburg
as a cultural and historical centre and Kazan as a sport town with
oriental tincture," Pavlov went on to say.
The new tourist route starts in Kazan, which is 1005 years old, with
the UNESCO protected ancient Kremlin, which has an Orthodox Church of the
Annunciation and the Kul Sharif mosque in its territory. Other highlights
include the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, a catholic church and the
Sviyazhsk Island with 12th-17th century architectural monuments on the
Volga River.
Modern sport facilities emerge against the background of ancient
historical and cultural landmarks. The city is preparing for the 2013
University games. Comfortable hotels and new metro stations are being
built. An international airport and a river port are being reconstructed.
Performances of Tatar artists who sing folk songs certainly add more
flavour to the entire exposition. The visitors have a chance to taste
delicious and exquisite oriental cuisine.
The 44th annual International Tourism Exchange ITB-2010 opened in the
Messe Berlin convention center on Tuesday.
ITB-2010 is one of the world's biggest fairs of tourism, travel and
excursions. More than 11,127 participants from 187 countries, including
Russia, displayed their expositions in 26 pavilions on an area of 160,000
square meters.
In his opening speech Rainer Bruderle, the German Minister of Economy
and New Technologies, wished its participants to establish mutually
beneficial business ties and conclude new interesting contracts. The
minister said that although the world tourism industry was on decline
because of the financial crisis he hoped that 2011 would become a "normal
year" with stable prices and growing numbers of vacationers.
"But Germany in time of crisis is confirming its title of world
tourism champion," Bruderle emphasized.
The participants in the exhibition include international associations
and tourism federations, national and regional tourism organizations,
tourism and transport agencies, tourism operators, hotels, insurance and
other companies related to tourism.
Turkey is taking part in the ITB-2010 as a partner country. Every year
Turkey attracts the growing number of tourists, especially from Germany
and Russia. Turkey expects the number of German travelers to increase from
4.5 to 5 million in 2010. That is why Turkish tourist companies will try
to present the cultural diversity of their country, the national cuisine
and new tourist facilities and tourist routes.
The main exhibition themes this year include cultural tourism
(pavilion 10), health improvement spas (pavilion 16), sea cruises
(pavilion 25); pavilions 6, 8 and 10 are devoted to Travel Technologies
that will feature data bases, distribution systems, technological
solutions, booking systems and calculation programs. A series of business
events such as seminars, symposiums, meetings with experts and press
representatives as well as roundtables will also be held.
The exhibition will be open until March 14. Organizers expect more
than 110,000 professional visitors from all over the world and 170,000
tourism and travel lovers.

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