World Travel Awards: Moscow Became the Best Travel Destination of 2019

Apart from Moscow, the category featured such cities as London, New York, Lisbon, Paris, Saint Petersburg, Sidney, Rio de Janeiro, and others. The awards ceremony took place in the city of Muscat, Oman, on November, 28.

“World Travel Awards is a quality mark, and it means that Moscow is consolidating its positions as one of the world’s travel capitals. Moscow has a rich history and culture, it is a city with one of the biggest economies of the world, a huge busy metropolis. Tourists coming to Moscow from all parts of the world get positive impressions, unique experience and feel comfortable and secure. The best proof is the appraisal of travelers who voted for our city along with the world travel industry professionals. It is a great honor for us to win such a prestigious award! I am sure that we have many global wins ahead!”,–  Yekaterina Pronicheva, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, said.

Moscow was nominated to the World Travel Awards 2019 in three major categories: “World’s Leading City Destination”, World’s Leading Festival & Event Destination, and World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination. Additionally, the award organizers nominated Moscow in two more categories: World's Leading Business Travel Destination and World's Leading Cultural City Destination. Winners were chosen in an open vote held at the Award’s official site until October 20.

In 2019, World Travel Awards have been granted in 80 categories. The winners are hotels, airlines, tour operators, cities, resorts, and attractions. All in all, there were more than 1,000 participants in 2019.

Except for Moscow, among Russian participants in different categories were cities (Kazan, Saint Petersburg), airlines (Aeroflot), hotels (Mamaison All-Suites Spa Hotel Pokrovka, Radisson Royal Hotel, Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, Lotte Hotel), restaurants (City Space) and tourist companies (Academservice).

Tourism in Moscow

In 2019, Moscow’s tourist flow has been growing. During the first 9 months of 2019, Moscow received 19.5 million tourists. During this period, Moscow received 753.8 thousand tourists from China, 267.8 thousand from Germany, 121.7 thousand from France, 118.4 thousand from Italy and 113.6 thousand from Israel.

The most typical guests of Moscow – people younger than 34 y.o., so-called “millennials” (the generation born between 1981 and 1996) – are the most active visitors. They visit the capital to get new impressions; they are attracted by numerous festivals, sporting events, and cultural scenes.

The capital currently has 1,718 hotels. The annual occupancy rate of the capital’s properties equals 77 %, which is comparable with that of Amsterdam, London, and Paris. Moscow is also a traditional point of tourist interest on the New Year holidays. Four and five-star hotels near Tverskaya Street are the top performers: 95 % of their rooms are occupied during the New Year holidays.

In Moscow, there are 1,691 certified guides and interpreters who conduct tours in 26 different languages, and 1,972 guides who conduct tours in Russian and work for the local travel market.