Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev congratulated the best tour guides of the RUSSIA EXPO

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On May 16, the Exposition acknowledged the work of the best tour guides of the Rosmolodezh program "More than a Trip" and employees of the guest center according to the results of April. There were eight nominations in total. Among those who congratulated the best specialists were representatives of the Roscosmos State Corporation and Pelageya Sterligova, head of the excursion circuit of the Exposition.

For the guides who have more than 200 excursions under their belt, the organizers envisaged a separate nomination "More than a Champion".

"To conduct more than 200 excursions is an incredible heroic moral labor. Because when a person meets so many guests, they give more than they receive. For me, a tour guide is the face of the RUSSIA EXPO, because no matter how awesome the Exposition is, only a person can convey the soul and emotions to another person. They are the "guides of meanings." Visitors leave the Exposition with the attitude that depends on the way the guides make presentations to them, and these emotions are then spread all over the country," Pelageya Sterligova emphasized.

On behalf of the cosmonauts, Oleg Artemyev, a Russian test cosmonaut of the Research Test Unit of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, the 118th cosmonaut of Russia and the 534th cosmonaut of the world, a participant of space expeditions, who made eight spacewalks, gave words of gratitude to the guides in the format of a video message.

"Cosmonauts are often called guides to the world of the Universe. And you, tour guides, act as real conductors of meanings, helping Russians to learn new things about their native country. Thanks to your work, the guests of the International RUSSIA EXPO have a new look at their Motherland: they have begun to take even more pride in its achievements — this is entirely your achievement. The whole country says "thank you" for this. We wish you happiness, prosperity, victories, health and a peaceful sky above your heads. And let your loved ones always be healthy, and love, coziness and mutual understanding reign in your home," the cosmonaut said.

More than 13 million people have visited the Exposition so far. More than 120 delegations from different countries of the world, including Japan, Brazil, India and the UAE, have visited the venue since its opening. Among them are almost two thousand participants of the World Youth Festival.

Almost 700 people work as guides for the comfort of visitors, they have conducted more than 45,000 excursions since the opening of the Exposition. On May 12, the "Young Tour Guide School" was launched, where the existing guides will pass on the skills of the profession and knowledge of the Exposition content to their children. The initiative that was launched by the Rosmolodezh program "More than a Trip" in the Year of the Family will help the younger generation to acquire knowledge in the field of tourism and take part in the large-scale event for the country.

One of the guides whose work was recognized at the end of April, Ivan Tyunin, shared his impressions of participating in such a large-scale project as the RUSSIA EXPO. "The guides of meanings make the Exposition alive, they animate it. We help sightseers to see that there is a lot to be proud of in our country. This gives hope that things will be even better. We pass on information that inspires love for our homeland. We are the links in a big chain that has already brought so many guests to the Exposition, and I am sure that this is not the limit," said Ivan.

Let us remind you that the RUSSIA EXPO is held from November 4 to July 8 in Moscow, on the VDNH grounds. Visitors are presented expositions of 89 regions of Russia, leading federal departments, corporations and public organizations. More than 13 million people have already visited the Exposition.