St. Petersburg showcase on 50th anniversary of sister-city tie-up with Mumbai

As distinct as they are, St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, and Mumbai, India’s financial capital, are readying to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of sister-city status this month as “Days of St. Petersburg in Mumbai” from December 10-12 in Mumbai. The two cities had entered into the sister-city pact that seeks to establish closer trade, cultural and tourism and people to people ties way back in 1967 when St. Petersburg was still known as Leningrad and Mumbai as Bombay.

Promoting St. Petersburg as tourism destination for Mumbaikars will be high on the agenda of the visiting St. Petersburg delegates as the two sides also engage in a round table discussion on tourism opportunities attended by the Consul General office of Russian Federation in Mumbai, Administration of City of St. Petersburg, Visit St. Petersburg’s India representative Salvia Promoters, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, among others.

Coinciding with the 50^th anniversary of sister-city status in 2017, St. Petersburg recently announced the opening of Visit St. Petersburg’s, official tourism agency mandated with marketing and promoting St. Petersburg as a tourism destination, office in India earlier this year appointing Salvia Promoters as its tourism representative office here.

According to Andrey Mushkarev, Chairman of Committee of Tourism Development of St. Petersburg, “As we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the sister-city status that our two cities, St. Petersburg and Mumbai, entered in 1967, we see that there is ever greater need today to further our friendship and understanding as well as tourism and cultural ties between our two great cities. We are particularly keen to reinvigorate the spirit that the sister-city status intends to forge through tourism.”

Prashant Chaudhary, Managing Director, Salvia Promoters, said, “This year is also particularly significant as St. Petersburg has opened its tourism office in India in order to motivate and invite our Indian friends to explore our great historic city and beyond. Like Mumbai or Delhi, St. Petersburg is very rich in history and heritage and is one of the greatest global travel destinations. The city has frequently been ranked amongst the top European cities for its tourism attractiveness that uniquely combines the old and new world charm and has everything to offer to a discerning Indian traveller.”

Coinciding with the 50^th anniversary celebration later this month in Mumbai, a high level delegate is visiting Mumbai to explore new areas of opportunity to strengthen tourism, cultural and trade ties. The occasion will also witness a showcase from the Cultural Capital through operas and other such events.