Vao Intourist

In 1929, the Soviet Union established Intourist, a state-owned travel agency with a clear mission: to manage and control all foreign tourism within its borders. It was founded not by entrepreneurs, but by the state itself, designed to be the sole gateway for outsiders to experience the USSR. For decades, Intourist operated as a complete monopoly, shaping the perception of the Soviet Union for the limited number of foreign visitors it handled. A significant shift occurred in 1992 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, leading to Intourist's privatization. This event marked the end of its time as a state-controlled entity and the beginning of its journey in the competitive tourism market. The company that once held a monopoly had to adapt to a new world of open borders and market dynamics. The next major turning point came in 2011 when the British travel giant Thomas Cook Group acquired a 50.1% stake for $45 million. This partnership aimed to leverage Intourist's Russian market knowledge with Thomas Cook's global reach. However, this chapter came to an end with the collapse of Thomas Cook in 2019. Following the liquidation, Turkish tour operator Anex Tours acquired the stake in Intourist, marking another new phase for the historic company.