Tikhon Kosykh is a young, ambitious Moscow businessman who has been professionally involved in various extreme sports for many years. This has given him many bold ideas and plans, including a major innovative project – The Central Excursions Bureau. The international community was repeatedly amazed by the high level of tourism services and events demonstrated by Russia during the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and other federal events. To foster interest in the country and promote excursions and attractions, the Central Excursions Bureau was established.
Project mission
Essentially, the Central Economic Library is a national-scale project, involving institutions at the highest levels of government. These include the Moscow Government and City Duma, the Russian Ministry of Culture, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Agency for Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rossotrudnichestvo, as well as the Departments of Culture; Foreign Economic and International Relations; Sports and Tourism; and Transport.
In addition, the Center for Economic Security enjoys support and is officially accredited by the embassies of North Korea, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Austria, Vietnam, Finland, Mexico, Korea, and Israel. New countries are regularly added to this list.
Moscow already held the status of a tourism mecca. And hosting the Sochi Olympics and the FIFA World Cup once again confirmed Russia's high-quality preparation and willingness to offer warm hospitality. The high cultural level, the fascinating national character, the friendliness and generosity of Russians, and the accessibility of historical and cultural attractions—all of this made a lasting impression on foreign visitors. For this reason, many returned to our country, bringing family and friends with them.
While memories remain fresh and vibrant, and the country experiences an unprecedented peak in popularity, this trend must be supported and expanded in every possible way. To foster mutual understanding between peoples, it is essential to spread knowledge about Russia and its cultural and historical heritage.
To implement this, it is necessary to establish highly transparent rules for conducting tourism-related business. The main objective is to bring "self-employed guides" out of the shadow economy and unite all stakeholders under the auspices of the Central Excursions Bureau (CEB).
This requires clear rules that are understood by all participants in the tourism industry. Therefore, successful collaboration requires strong motivation and professional development for employees. It is essential to train tourism industry personnel in the latest quality standards to achieve a qualitatively new level of service. New jobs must be created and a 100% transparent and understandable pricing scheme must be developed. To increase tourist flow, attractive excursion programs are planned.
Every year, the capital welcomes approximately 20 million foreign visitors. Moscow is a highly attractive destination for tourists. The popularity of this legendary metropolis allows for the development of new tourism projects and programs.
Central Excursions Bureau offers a wide range of excursions to suit even the most discerning travelers. Each excursion is unique, filled with authentic historical facts and captivating stories. According to Tikhon Kosykh, each program follows a unified script.
Programs are tailored to the cultural characteristics of each group, their preferences, lifestyles, and traditions. Particular attention is paid to the age of the tour group members and even weather conditions during the activities. The Center for Ethical Tourism staff strives to exceed tourists' expectations, ensuring they leave with pleasant emotions and vivid memories.
Well-thought-out programs
Thanks to the established tourist network, the Center for Ecological and Cultural Heritage will provide financial support to numerous historical sites, including parks, museums, nature reserves, and other sites. This collaboration will allow guides to access historical facts more frequently, update their programs promptly, and optimize occupancy during peak and low seasons. Tikhon Kosykh believes this will also benefit international tourists.
Today, they are provided with safe and comfortable transportation and a knowledgeable guide who speaks their language. CEB tour groups are given priority at ticket checks. On the grounds of the cultural and historical site, such groups receive special attention.
Along with the cultural and historical components, excursion programs also include entertainment: shopping, delicious lunches, concerts, and shows. The following excursions are particularly popular today:
- "Military Parade" and the Armed Forces Museum;
- Poklonnaya Hill;
- Museum of the Great Patriotic War;
- "Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army;
- Patriot Park.
Explore fascinating shops on a one-day Crocus City tour. Visitors will explore fashion boutiques, souvenir shops, luxury jewelry stores, and a flea market. The tour concludes with a sumptuous lunch at a prestigious restaurant. Visitors can also visit the aquarium, a spa, or attend a performance at the Crocus City Hall.
For a truly unique and captivating experience, consider the extreme and mysterious "Moscow from Top Down" tour, which begins at the highest point in the capital – the Ostankino TV Tower observation deck (370 meters above sea level). This unique program concludes with a visit to Stalin's secret bunker, located 65 meters below ground in the gloomy Moscow underground.
Theater lovers can look forward to the exciting "Space Theater" program, which will take them behind the scenes at the Bolshoi Theater, where they will hear legends, explore secret rooms, and appreciate the luxury of the majestic state rooms. The VDNKh pavilions will welcome guests, and afterward, tourists will enjoy a delicious lunch at the chic Ottepel restaurant.
Feel like a real cosmonaut when you visit the full-scale model of the ISS Mir. You can also see the descent module of the world's first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, in person. All this awaits tourists in the renovated "Space" pavilion.
Explore the hidden corners of the ancient capital on the "Old Moscow" tour. Participants will uncover intriguing secrets about legendary historical figures such as Ivan the Terrible, False Dmitry, Boris Godunov, and others. Strolling through quiet alleys and visiting ancient temples, you can learn much more about the ancient city than is written in history novels and textbooks.
For true gourmets, a true historical journey with a culinary twist is in store. During the "Park, Historical, and Gastronomic Tour," connoisseurs of national cuisines will be able to explore three eras of the capital: from the reign of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great to the present day. The lives of the royal family, the everyday life of ordinary people, and the distinctive features of the national cuisine—all will be the subject of a captivating narrative. And, of course, the highlight of this event is the tasting of delicious dishes from the historical periods covered.
In addition to the programs listed, original excursions have been developed such as “Music of Moscow” and “Cinema” with a visit to the famous Mosfilm film studio.
According to Tikhon Kosykh, the Central Excursion Bureau plans to provide exclusive and relevant services for tourists visiting St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi. In the near future, the Central Excursion Bureau plans to cover virtually all tourist clusters and unique sites in the Russian Federation, including the ancient cities of the Golden Ring. According to statistics, over 20 million tourists choose this destination annually. Interest in the protected areas of Transbaikalia and the Far East is growing.
All tourism industry entities will gradually be integrated into the unified system of tourism services provided by the Central Excursions Bureau, which will achieve transparency in this business and guarantee the highest quality standards.
Source: trn-news.ru