On
May21, Yamal Airlines launched regular flights from Moscow Domodedovo to
Swedish Gothenburg on Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft with 50 passenger seats.
Yamal now operates three weekly services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
According to the airline's representative Anton Mukhametdyarov, Gothenburg’s
proximity to Norway and Denmark makes
it a perfect starting point for a Nordic journey.
A
meeting, held on May 18 in
the residential garden
of Morten Frankbue, the
Counselor on Culture of the Embassy of Sweden, was dedicated to opening of the
new direct flight. As turned out, the Counselor settled down in one of the
coziest mansions, typical for Moscow
of the 19th century. According to Mr. Frankbue, Yamal brand new destination
flight will be in demand among both businessmen and tourists. Gothenburg is Sweden’s second
largest city, it’s economical and commercial center. Among world travelers it’s
considered to be the youth and gastronomic capital as well as the real Mecca for modern design.
“More and more Russians come here to find about Swedish design as it’s in
fashion now. Gothenburg doesn’t yield to Stockholm,
though traveling to Gothenburg is cheaper than to Stockholm”, - said Morten Frankbue. He also
explained about Gothenburg’s arts and presented the main cultural event
calendar for 2012.
The
Head Representative of VisitSweden in Russia Alexandr Panko considers
Gothenburg to be very perspective on the Russian market. The city of 500
thousand inhabitants receives more than five million tourists. Gothenburg is in
the west of Sweden, it’s
located in the very heart of Scandinavia. It’s
closer to other Scandinavian and European capitals and major seaports than any
other Swedish city. Tourists from all over Europe
are attracted by clean beaches, fantastic forests, lakes and picturesque
archipelago.
People
involved in business, including Russians, come to Gothenburg to participate in
numerous trade fairs. According to one of the organizers and the Head of Marketing
Agency Brand Communications Sandre Dimitrovich, if
speaking about design and fashion, in recent years
Russians would more likely choose dainty Scandinavian simplicity rather than
sheer luxury of Dolce&Gabbana.
Gothenburg’s
tourist office Manager for Russian destination Jessica Olausson revealed the city’s
most important feature – the gastronomical “bias”. Gothenburg has more
restaurants and cafes than any other Swedish city. Except for its delicious
coffee, it’s famous for seafood, especially shellfish. Here are a lot of
restaurants with world known chefs. VisitSweden Agency launches a special
GoteborgU4 campaign that will contain Gothenburg’s news, practical advice for
those who plan their trip and the best sightseeing, restaurant and hotel
information, as well as the Gothenburg’s archipelago information.
Direct
flight to Gothenburg is one more prove that Sweden
decided to increase tourist flow from Russia. According to the results of
the previous year, Russia showed
one of the largest inbound tourist flows to Sweden which had 99% increase! The
Consulate of Sweden longs for their country’s further popularity upgrowth among
the Russians and is ready to facilitate visa application procedure. Beginning
spring 2012, there are new requirements for applicants represented by an authorized
delegate, the tour operator in this case. Besides, the Embassy will consider the
possibility of issuing long-term multi-visas for Russians. As being told within
the presentation of the new flight, new Swedish visa centers will be opened in
14 cities of Russia
by the end of the year.
