ILS 10th graders are participating in a business-oriented project called "Vladivostok - Russia's tourist gateway to the Asia-Pacific Region."

"We decided to get our 10th graders involved in a large-scale project designed to help promote Vladivostok as a tourist center, " explains Valentina Kovaleva, who teaches Russian Language and Literature at ILS and serves as head the school's International Center. "We all love our city, and I am certain that each of us has something to offer to guests of the Russian Far East capitol."

Over the next two months, the students' ideas will be refined and developed into realistic business proposals. The project leader is Olga Gurevich, who heads the governor's council for development of tourism in Primorye and serves as director of the Primorsky Club travel agency.

"Primorye was visited by 780,000 tourists last year," notes Olga Gurevich. "We believe that attracting even more tourists in the future will give a boost to the region's economy, with receipts contributing to the further development of tourism in Vladivostok and Primorye."

During the first sessions, the students formed teams, explored possible tourism projects, and discussed the various risks involved with an eye to making presentations.

"This is the first time we have attempted a project of this kind on such a large scale," explains ILS Principal Olga Shevchenko. "The students now are faced with the task of doing research on the demand for their ideas, deciding how best to implement their projects, looking into possible sources of financing, and deciding how best to present their plans to the market. I wish all our students and mentors success in their work on this undertaking."