ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

From the inception of Serendipity one goal has been to try to find ways to assist with economic development in the Vladimir region.  The fact that initial efforts to promote trade and investment were not successful did not lead to our giving up.

Beginning in 2004 Serendipity initiated a major effort to assist with tourism development.  The initial team consisted of Dr. Bruce Wicks, a University of Illinois specialist on tourism; Karen Hasara, former Mayor of Springfield, Illinois, with substantial experience with tourism issues; and Katya Lakshtanova, a native of Moscow and a Master's candidate in tourism management at the University of Illinois.

We are both providing specific recommendations and producing useable “products.”  The latter have included an English language website for the City of Vladimir, assistance with editing English language materials, the production of a map for tourists, and A History of the Vladimir Region for Tourists.

·         News article on the tourism project

·         Commentary on the First Visit

·         Tourism Team Reports