Specific conditions of foreign tourists’ stay in the USSR

Questions of stay of foreign tourists in the territory of the Soviet State, deriving profit from it and safety and security arrangements were always in the focus of attention of the struc- tures, which were mandated to monitor these issues. The company «Intourist», created in 1929, throughout its history, exercised a main ideological function in the formation and development of Soviet tourism industry. «Intourist» with its five millions capitals under the patronage of the first persons of the state was supreme in the Soviet tourism industry and carried on its business. In particular, the company built own hotels, opened hotel restau- rants, formed its own truck fleet in own garage, and consistently organized wide advertis- ing campaigns abroad. All this in the best possible way contributed to its success. The authors, who have studied the phenomenon of «Intourist», show that interest in the Soviet Union, the world’s first Bolshevist state in pre-war and the post-war period, its people, its economic and spiritual achievements, and its cultural and natural heritage, is in many respects the merit of «Intourist». Its activities resulted in increased from year to year the number of people wishing to visit the Soviet Union. Reception and service of foreign tour- ists, namely, hotel and restaurant, sightseeing and transport services, have been gradu- ally improved. Furthermore, gathered experience has certainly played a positive role in the tourism development in modern Russia.