EDITORIAL
World to Russia: Thanks but No Thanks
The World Travel Organization predicts that average international travel will fall 2% this year owing to the worldwide economic slowdown. Care to guess what the rate of falloff in Vladimir Putin’s Russia will be?
You need to multiply the world average by 15. That’s right, 15. Russia is suffering far more than any other major nation in loss of tourism dollars just as its stock market and currency have fallen further than other nations’ have done. That is the Putin economy in a rotten nutshell. As Russia’s so-called “leader” continues his crazed, Stalin-like attacks on foreigners and foreign-owned businesses, the world shuns Russia just as it did in Soviet times. Instead of winning friends and admirers for Russia, Putin makes only enemies.
It’s expected that international tourism to Russia’s main tourist draw, St. Petersburg (which receives a whopping 80% of all foreign tourists) will drop by a stunning 30% in 2009. Russian travel abroad is down 25% in the first quarter of this year, and travel by Russians to St. Pettersburg is projected to fall 15% for the year, indicating that not only will Russians be crushed by a lack of tourism revenues but also by an inabilty to enjoy the benefits of tourism themselves.
Nearly one-fifth of all jobs in Russia’s second largest city, St. Petersburg, depend on tourism. This means Piter will suffer massive job losses as a result of the coming paralysis in the industry. The city’s travel promotion budget has been slashed by nearly 50% because of the national economic malaise, and Mariana Ordzhonikidze, head of St. Petersburg’s tourism department, summed it up succinctly: “We are all very troubled and discouraged. We had to downsize our stands at trade shows and even cut out countries such as Japan and major cities like Chicago and Dubai.”
Nice job there, Mr. Putin.
La Russophobe 
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Funny you put this as I am travelling to Russian Federation this summer and looking forward to it. Russia Rocks!!!
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Spoken like someone who’s never paid a bribe to a Russian policeman for passage, never met Russian xenophobia, never been abused in Russian hotel or restaurant. Like, in other words, a childish idiot.
Thanks, by the way, for the impressive list of tourist attractions that the world’s population would find of interest. Really devastating stuff. You ought to be blogging.
Well, your funeral.
Try going and seeing the real Russia, such as the poluted hellholes of the Russian “mono cities”.
Andrew, You’ve obviously never have been to west virgnia? I having lived there a period can tell you, IT actually looks like this documentary I am going to show you.
I fear that Uneducated Rednecks such as yourself will degenerate america even further to where the entire country looks like that.
So Eric, have you ever been to rural Russia? And by rural Russia, I don’t mean the dachas an hour’s drive from Moscow. The people depicted in the comedy on youtube you posted have a pretty good life compared to residents of rural Russia. The roads in the video you cared to share with us are decently paved, there are no drunks wandering around town, there are no burnt out or otherwise decrepit/abandoned buildings…. All told, I would say West Virginia is by far a much, much, much better place to live than the distant reaches of rural Russia that have for all practical purposes abandoned by the Russian State.
You are going to seriously call russia an ugly place when we have places like this?
You give people the reason around the world to call us hypocrites, and I don’t like having my country known as a nation of hypocrites.
Way to go.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
If you are even a little interested in facts, you idiot, America has far more international touists than Russia does. You are not helping the Russians by rationalizing their failure.
Eric, one simple question. Have you ever been to Russia?
Actually, I think West Virginia’s pretty. Good fishing, too. And I like parts of Russia (St Petersburg in Summer; Siberia remains pretty), but travelling there is terrible. Somewhere, between the stupid visa-invite requirements, the crap airports, the roads, and the bad food, the corrupt police, and the rude populace, Russia’s really messed up this tourist visit thing…
In response to la idiot.
YOU ARE NOT HELPING IMPOVERISHED PARTS OF AMERICA AS I’VE SHOWN IN JESCO WHITES DOCUMENTARY BY CHASING DOWN NON-EXISTENT BADIES IN A COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T EVEN MATTER.
So what if russia has bad tourist industry! THIS IS TRULY THE SIGN OF AN EVIL COUNTRY! Yeah right…. You are sounding crazier in your attempts to scrutinize even the most miniscule country on the other side of the planet that never in a million years could be of any harm to america ever again.
INFACT, Aren’t the ruskies letting us send nato supplies through their territory to afghanistan?
It’s a shame their tourist industry is crappy, now we must be mortal enemies, even with their assistance to nato.
Listen moron,
I am not a US citizen, and most certainly not a redneck.
You however have shown yourself to be a simpleton of the first order.
The majority of Russia is a toxic hell, filled with vile little xenophobes that make the average redneck look like a choir boy for racial tolerance. Have you ever been to Russia?
I have, I have also been to the US, and your country is a paradise by comparrison.
Russia has a great ability to cause harm to its neighbors, especially Ukraine and Georgia, to Europe, and even to the US. The problem with Russia is it is still an empire, and has not reconciled itself to the loss of its “former imperial possessions”, and it is just itching to revers the result of the cold war.
You are the sort of moronic “isolationist” coward that was directly responsible for multiplying the horrors of places like Nazi Germany.
The reason Russia is so keen to “help” regards Afghanistan is because if you Yanks pull out, they are going to have to go in themselves, the last thing they want is another islamic fundamentalist state on the border of their moslem republics.
Make no mistake, they are no friend to the US, and if you bother to watch ANY Russian TV you will see how much they hate you.
So now please think and do some research about Russia and its historical (and current) crimes in places like Georgia, Chechnya, Daghestan, Poland, Ukraine etc before opening your ignorant mouth and engaging your tiny brain.
In addition, the article is showing how Russia is being run into the ground by a chekist dominated government.
Obviously you are too stupid to read the article in context.
Andrew, I sometimes feel sorry for people like you. I live in Russia, and it is good.
If you consider Russian an Empire, a danger to it’s neighbours, filled with Xenophobes a toxic wasteland, I can safely say you are an idiot at the level of La’ Russophobe.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Actually, Russia is world known for the hospitality of it’s citizens. Sure, racism is a big problem here, but so it is in places like Italy and Spain.
Russia an Empire? You are a paranoid vile creature, living in Cold war, right?
Danger to it’s neighbours? LOL? Tell me what Russia has done to be a “danger”?
Protecting itself from Georgia (and following a treaty it signed in 90’s)?
Not letting Ukraine get free Gaz?
Existing?
Toxic wasteland? LOL, no. Sure, some places where heavy industry is. But in the countryside, and vast majority of the country it is certainly not.
Personally, I think you are a moron, who has no idea what you are talking bout. But fortunately, your type is dying out, as people see Russia at what it really is, and forget the Cold War.
PS. I’ve been to Western Europe, before you start, little Xenophobe (that’s correct, you are a xenophobe by definition).
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Sir, you are very rude and ignorant. We have published rules about commenting, and you are REPEATEDLY violating them. You can NOT make factual claims without posting links to source material, and you can NOT personally insult fellow commenters. If you make another such comment, we will ban you.
Your ridiculous propaganda, totally devoid of anything remotely like actual facts, is offensive to us and makes Russia look like a nation of morons. As such, your gratuitous insult is the height of hypocrisy.
No, I am living in a country recently invaded by your state.
I have been to Moscow and have witnessed Russian “Hospitality” against ethnic minorities 1st hand.
What Russia is known for is xenophobic racism, mass murder against its own citizens, particularly ethnic minorities, appalling hypocrisy in crushing separatist movements in Chechnya, Daghestan, Ingushetia etc, while encouraging separatist movements in places like Georgia, and then invading to support them.
As for “protecting itself against Georgia” well if you call supplying the separatists with heavy weapons banned by said treaty from the conflict zone, and encouraging them to use them against Georgian villages in the conflict zone, then invading when the Georgians try to do something about it, “protectng itself” you are a typical “Great Russian” idiot.
In reality my “type” is increasing, due to the agression and threat posed by your country against its former posessions.
In case you had not noticed most polls in Europe, US, Africa, India etc show Russia as being mistrusted and disliked and considered negatively by the majority of respondants.
You are seen for the hypocrites you are.
“No, I am living in a country recently invaded by your state.
I have been to Moscow and have witnessed Russian “Hospitality” against ethnic minorities 1st hand.” Ah, so you are Georgian. I have 2 questions for you:
1. Did Russia attack Georgia unprovoked.
2. Did Georgia do not start the war?
If you answer yes on both, I won’t post as I would be wasting my time.
“What Russia is known for is xenophobic racism,” Did your media tell you that? Hum?
“mass murder against its own citizens, ”
Only time this happened was under our “dear leader”, Stalin. Who was born in Georgia btw.
Stalin was a scumbag who ruined Soviet Union for 30 years. Only reason he isn’t hated is because he actually did some useful things.
“particularly ethnic minorities,”
No, not really. I guess that’s the Georgian media coming in.
“appalling hypocrisy in crushing separatist movements in Chechnya,”
The seperatists got independence. What did they do? Turn into a terrorist government run by bandits and bribes, used all money they got from RF (as compensation of damage done) on arms (those not intercepted by local warlords), let majority of their citizens live in extreme poverty, not even having a roof under their head (yes, majority of Chechen populace lived in tents, if they were lucky). When Chechen warlords invaded Daghestan, and highned terrorist activities in Russia it was enough.
Russian troops came, and they were welcomed by majority of population. Wahhabis were quickly destroyed.
“Daghestan, Ingushetia etc,”
Except vast majority of Ingushy and Daghestanis want to stay in RF. Invading wahhabis from Chechnya and other islamic countries do not constitute any major movement for independence.
“while encouraging separatist movements in places like Georgia,” I’m sorry, but S. Ossetia and Abkhazia HAVE NEVER been under Georgian control, since CENTURIES ago. Even in Soviet Union they ruled themselves. When Georgia became independent from USSR, these small nations had just as much right as Georgia to be independent.
“As for “protecting itself against Georgia” well if you call supplying the separatists with heavy weapons banned by said treaty from the conflict zone,” Which, when?
“and encouraging them to use them against Georgian villages in the conflict zone,”
They were used only in defence of their own villages. Your head isn’t for wearing hats.
“then invading when the Georgians try to do something about it, “protectng itself” you are a typical “Great Russian” idiot.”
1. “do something about it”? You mean, the Georgian invasion of 5 battalions (who got their asses handed to them by outnumbered Russians and the South ossetians) as a response to “terrorist bombings” which never happened?
2. By protecting themselves, I was reffering to the Russian peace keepers targeted by their fellow Georgian peace keepers, artillery and armour.
“In reality my “type” is increasing, due to the agression and threat posed by your country against its former posessions.”
No, not really. Your dear leader is being toppled by your own people. They got enough of this incompetence.
“In case you had not noticed most polls in Europe, US, Africa, India etc show Russia as being mistrusted and disliked and considered negatively by the majority of respondants.”
Oh really? Because I remember reading that generally Russia was liked in Europe ;).
I’m sorry, but the “polls” you are reffering to, are polls Georgian ministry of Propaganda made up, and fed you with.
BTW Cretin, I am not a Georgian, ethnic or citizen, but an ex-pat working in the country.
As for russia’s declining popularity
http://worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/views_on_countriesregions_bt/588.php?lb=btvoc&pnt=588&nid=&id=
As can be seen from the results, Russian is more unpopular, even in the middle east, than the USA, and in Africa, Asia, and just about everywhere else.
BTW, the Kirov class, along with just about every other piece of Russian military equipment is a joke, thats why your glorious navy ran like dogs fro Sevastapol from 2 USN guided missile destroyers.
Oh really? Is that why the Georgian army (which was poured in nearly all of your money), which was upgraded to NATO standards, got smashed to pices by sheer air power, and outnumbered Russian ground forces? How impressive!
And Russian navy ran from USN? Uhmm, I remember Russian admiral saying those destroyers were no threath, as a single salvo from our Missile Cruisers would easily sink both of them.
Sorry to burst your bubble :).
You are the idiot.
Abkhazia was part of Georgia during both the Tsarist empire (it was administered as part of Imereti province) as was South Ossetia (Part of Kartli province) both were part of the Georgian menshevik republic.
Lenin’s regime, and Stalin, gave both areas autonomy in order to punish the Georgians for resisting soviet expansion.
Georgians were the majority in both provinces until the Russian sponsored ethnic cleansing of the early 90’s.
Maybe you should actually read some history “Kirov”
Try “Conflict in the Caucasus” by Svetlana Chervonnaya, head researcher of the Moscow institute of Ethnography, she rips quite a few holes in the stupidity that is Russian mythmaking about Abkhazia in particular.
As for the Georgian army, sorry moron, even your own army spokesman stated at the time, that the Russian forces outnumbered the Georgians aroung Tshkinvali, it was not until a clear and massive superiority was achieved that the Russians were able to get into Tshkinvali, even then the final Georgian counter attack on the morning of the 10th was able to drive the Russians out of the city for several hours.
The Georgian army was certainly not trained and equipped to NATO standards.
The Georgians deployed an army that was mostly equipped with old soviet equipment such as T-72’s, BMP’s, BTR’s and Kalashnikovs & SA-11. BTW, they handed your airforce its arse on a plate.
Your aircraft losses were 3 times theirs.
As for “I remember Russian admiral saying those destroyers were no threath, as a single salvo from our Missile Cruisers would easily sink both of them.”
So that is why your PM and President were screaming about the ships being a threat to Russian security is it?
Come on, your missile boats are a joke, they are over 30 years old on average, and your naval waepons systems are easily jammed, decoyed, and shot down by SM-2/3 and Vulcan CIWS.
Whereas your ships are extremely vulnerable to Harpoon/Tomahawks.
Also given the fact that your airforce was restricted to using “dumb” bombs and rockets in CAS missions, and you were so incompetent you used a TU-22m for tactical recon (losing it and its crew, the only instructors for the type) to an SA-11, I think the Yanks would have had you for breakfast.
Besides, name a naval victory for the Russians in the 20th century, its a damn short list.
La Idiot…
Hahahahahaha…
Change website name … La Idiot is clearly more appropriate, hahaha…
Leonid, it would be a much more appropriate name for you.
Hahaha Russophobe this stinking Jew is pissed cause Putin smashed the Jewish parasites in Russia and he is one of them. Look,I got a bad message for you,you will have more and more reason to be pissed,very soon Russia and China will form a new world reserve currency and then your dollar and American world power will be finished.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Well, that certainly proves what kind of country Russia is! We rest our case, and apologize to our more civilized readers for this barbarism, which we must let stand for obvious reasons.
Take your stinking anti-Semitism somewhere else.
Ignore RussianBear. He is a racist, unfortunately we have a few of his type in our country.
Ah, the good old Russian racist rears his head, showing the world once again what an inferior mindset the Russians have.
China wants no part of a currency deal with Russia, as you maggots are the WORST performing economy in the developed or even the developing world.
Hey capital boy, I was calling HIM a maggot.
He is a walking stereotype of the average Russian.
Just as you seem to be a walking stereotype of a liberal “choirboy tuner”
@Andrew
Just read the statements of the Chines leaders,China has together with Russia founded the SCO(anti-NATO)
Well they basically told Russia to eff off over the war in Georgia last year.
Besides, as the financial crisis shows, their economy is ENTIRELY dependant on the US and EU.
Unlike your pathetic KGB state.
Yeah right,thats why China is growing 10% despite the bankrupcy in America.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Unlike Russia, China has a real economy that does not depend on fossil fuel prices set by foreigners. Russia has collapsed economically for one simple reason: America is no longer buying its oil. By wishing ill on the US economy, you wish doom on Russia, you idiot.
Dear Readers,
Profanity is not published on this blog, and the use of “*” or “_” does not save it. Comments containing profanity are deleted.
Sorry, quite sincerely by the way.
I plea to LR to ease this profanity restriction. In most cases Unkneeling Russians can’t make a coherent argument; and profanity is an easy way to compensate for lack of intellect. Just like you let Russian Bear’s comments stand for obvious reason, letting some profanity stand is very helpful.
After all, as this poster points out – in Russian profanity is not for cursing. In Russian profanity is for speaking!
Please ignore racist RussianBear. We have some of his types, and they are a shame for the majority.
Anyway, I won’t bother posting here. La’Russophobe, you need to post something serious sometime. I mean, all your followers are Xenophobic idiots like Andrew and Felix. Rest just laugh at you, and your sorry attempt at making a poll.
I’m off from here, I guess I’l come back when I need another laugh.
PS. Please don’t ban me, I enjoy making fun of idiots :)
Sorry Kirov, but “russian bear” IS the majority in your country.
Andy, try not to use comma everywhere revealing your russian nature. We hate non-lulzy trolls
Reminds me of a famous quote from Bulgakov’s Heart of a Dog: Professor, you dislike proletariat!
LR doesn’t ban posters like – we enjoy making fun of idiots!
I wonder how many of the all of a sudden new names to hit this thread – leonid, Kirov Class*, 1stWorldMember – are coming from the same keyboard. It’s so obvious and pathetic.
If a person with some facts, logic and reason wants to make a counter-case here I’m all for it, but, mindless trolls changing their moniker are a waste of time.
Yeah, and you are not la russophobe?
If you throw around baseless accusations, the same can be said about you.
Every antirussian comment is made by the same person who runs this website, under different monikers.
I KNOW IT’S YOU CHENEY.
Ha ha ha. Ninny.
Eric,
Pull your thumb out of your rear end and put it back in your mouth. Don’t worry about the flavor, it’s Russian cuisine.
Well, comments of any kind do not change the fact that few wish to visit Russia. With the economy in a state of collapse, the KGB authorities bewildered, and the Russian people witnessing harsh consequences at every turn these days, I would expect the Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, and so many other former Soviet states to be making plans for carving up the cadaver that Russia will soon become.
By the way Kirov, I believe several small Georgian Coast Guard vessels inflicted damage on the Moskva, one of Russia’s more modern warships, serious enough to make her captain consider withdrawing.
So much for the fearsome Russian Navy!
I do not have any affiliation with La Russophobe and my contributions are inspired by detestation of Government by mindless and destructive dictators. Russia is it, by far.
Gary Marshall
@Marshall
Now crawl back in your cardhouse box you live in (probably lost your subprime loan)stay away from us,thank you very much we are doing fine,we are rich,we have the capability of erasing the US within 20 minutes…
Ohh gosh I am so proud to be Russian
We are rich? Deluded is much more like it. Just in case you have been in a coma for the last six months, let me fill you in on a few facts: oil prices have fallen from $147 a barrel to $50 or less, the Russian economy is tanking, the fabled reserves have been largely spend and the state will have to borrow money by the end of the year, Russian companies are up to their eyeballs in foreign debt and don’t know how to pay this debt off, Russian manufacturing is collapsing to unprecedented levels, etc… Russia is certainly not rich, no matter what Channel One says.
Hello Russianbear,
Spoken like a true Russian watching his nation collapse.
How did you respond when the Soviet Union fractured and disintegrated?
Probably with the same proud stupidity.
How did you respond when the US had to bail out Russia about 10 years ago.
Probably with the same proud stupidity.
I think I see a pattern. The worse it is, the louder you proclaim your superiority.
Erasing the US in 20 minutes…Now there is a true Russian sentiment. How did Russia fare in Afghanistan and the first Chechen war? And supposedly, they will obliterate the world’s economic and military giant in 20 minutes
I am not so sure Russian missiles in their decrepit and neglected condition will even launch. When the US puts in their ABM system in neighboring Poland, Russia just won’t matter anymore, if it has not already become part of Poland, the Ukraine, Finland, Georgia and China.
I see Russian industry is disappearing at an alarming rate. How are you doing?
Gary Marshall