ST. PETERSBURG, September 24. /TASS/. More than 300 applications have been submitted for the annual competition titled "New Culture of Tourist Souvenirs" in Russia’s northwestern city of St. Petersburg in 2026, the organizing committee told TASS.

Until September 17, participants could submit applications in 12 different categories, including "Code of St. Petersburg," "Digital St. Petersburg," "Book Readings," "Best Souvenir Shop," "Best Collaboration / Souvenir Collaboration," "Merch for the 'New Tourist Geography' Routes," "Best Merch for St. Petersburg Eco-Routes," "Best Souvenir of Student/University Life," "Atmospheric Souvenir 'Seasons of St. Petersburg,’" "Best Architectural Souvenir," "Intellectual St. Petersburg. Souvenir. Game" and "Gastronomic St. Petersburg."

On September 23, winners and runners-up of the competition were honored with certificates and statuettes at an awards ceremony held as part of the 5th International Forum titled "Creative Industries in the Socio-Economic Development of Tourist Territories: New Horizons of Cooperation."

The jury’s special attention was captured by the winner in the "Code of St. Petersburg" category, the Russkiye Samotsvety jewelry company that presented a work titled "Breakfast with St. Petersburg" and a board game project "The Battle of Leningrad" by Yulia Lebedinova and the Premium-press publishing house that also secured the first place in the "Intellectual St. Petersburg" category.

"This year, we have taken incredible aesthetic pleasure in the souvenirs we have seen. We understand that the perception of souvenirs in St. Petersburg is changing, and a policy is taking shape on what souvenirs our tourists should take home. Earlier, souvenirs were connected with the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, with classical associations. But today, they are linked to certain emotions and routes. St. Petersburg is developing in many ways," Nana Gvichiya, deputy chair of the St. Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development, said.

The 5th International Presentation Conference on Tourism, Hospitality and Creative Industries, titled "The Role of Creative Industries in the Socio-Economic Development of Tourist Territories, Including Those Within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network" is being held in St. Petersburg from September 22 to 24. Experts from Belarus, the Republika Srpska (an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Jordan, Russia and Uzbekistan will discuss ways to develop the creative potential of St. Petersburg’s tourist destinations.