On September 24th, 2010 in advance of the International Tourism Day the solemn ceremony award of National Tourist Prize in honour of Yuriy Senkevich took place in Moscow. In a tradition it was held in the Big Peter hall of the “President” hotel, where met nominees, leaders of federal authorities, the largest non-governmental organizations in the sphere of tourism, and the profile committees of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, national tourist offices in Russia, high-ranking representatives of a whole number of ministries and departments, directors of the biggest tourist firms and hotel enterprises, famous travelers and cultural workers.

The National Tourist Prize in honour of Yuriy Senkevich, which was presented now at the seventh time, is the only non-commercial prize in the country. It was instituted in 2002 with the aim of assistance to the incoming and domestic tourism development, improvement of the efficiency and quality of the tourist services, growth of the level of qualification, professionalism and creative initiative of the tourist industry leaders and the administration of constituents of the Russian Federation.

The competent jury which is always headed by the outstanding researcher and conspicuous statesman Mr. Artur Chilingarov every year decides the winner in every of 18 main nominations. Moreover, this year the Federal Tourist Agency instituted a special nomination called “Best tourist complex”.

In previous years Arkhangelsk region was twice given the highest award. In 2006 the laureate in the “Best regional tour operator in the sphere of incoming and domestic tourism” was the tourist excursion company “Pomor-tour”, and in 2009 the other Arkhangelsk tourist company “Visit” crew over the victory in the “Best tourist agency” nomination.

By the way this time the Novodvinsk tour agency “Indigo” applied for the participation in this nomination. But the only winner from among the representatives of the Pomor land this year was JSC “Zvezdochka”, owning the tourist excursion ship “N.V. Gogol”, that is the oldest working steamboat in Russia.

Giving the award in the “Best regional museum” nomination to the representatives of “Zvezdochka”, the leader of the Federal Tourism Agency Mr. Anatoliy Yarochkin remarked that this win and the next year coming 100-year anniversary of the unique ship had induced the Federal Tourism Agency to start the work on the entering “N.V. Gogol” in the Guinness Book of records.

Just after the presentation of the bronze badge, the head of Federal Tourism Agency held in the Small Peter hall an improvised meeting with the representatives of the Government of Arkhangelsk Region, who had participated in the ceremony. The meeting was dedicated to the holding in May 2011 International Tourist Forum under the aegis of Federal Tourism Agency in Arkhangelsk.

Mr. Anatoliy Yarochkin expressed his confidence of the existing grounds for May International Tourist Forum in Arkhangelsk to get substantial international and All-Russian status and serious support from the federal authorities. He also drew attention to the necessity of maximally wide use of the opportunities, which gives spring “Inturmarket” exhibition for the promotion of Pomor tourist opportunities, and noted, that 100-year anniversary of the “N.V. Gogol” may become one of the brightest events within ITM.

Speaking about the ceremony award of National Tourist Prize in honour of Yuriy Senkevich should be specially mentioned that the win of the “N.V. Gogol” steamboat impressed on not only the head of the Federal Tourism Agency and the chairman of the State Duma Committee. Practically all the guests and other participants of the celebration sincerely congratulated the Pomor laureate, appreciating the uniqueness and longevity of the floating museum. For example, the captain of the “Apostol Andrey” yacht Mr. Nikolay Litau, who had made on its board several tours round the world, including the one following the Northern Sea Route, expressed his admiration for “N.V. Gogol” and wished this unique steamboat to reach successfully the anniversary age of the writer himself.