The 70s and the early 80s were a
period of stability for the Soviet Union and for
Leningrad. Though political freedoms were largely
limited, most of the city's population enjoyed
relative prosperity. When the government
initiated the reforms known worldwide as Perestroika
all stability of course disappeared. The
population began experiencing economic hardship,
while the reforms went on. In 1991, after a
city-wide referendum, the city of Leningrad was
renamed and got back its old name - St.
Petersburg.
Now, in the second half of the 90s,
St. Petersburg is still in a transition period,
both economically and socially. While the city
industry is still in recession, services and
retail sales are gradually improving, though
economically St. Petersburg is still far behind
Moscow. On the social side, the younger
generations are coping with the change quite
well, but unemployment is high, employment
prospects for those over 45 are dim and
pensioners struggle desperately to make ends
meet.
After
having lost the Olympic bid for 2004, the people
of St. Petersburg still hope for the fast economic
recovery and are prepared to welcome guests and
open St. Petersburg's numerous treasures to the
rest of the world. After all, St. Petersburg is the
most beautiful city of the world and we ought to
prove that (see the Virtual Tour). We love
it, and we are convinced, you'll love it too.
So, welcome to St. Petersburg - a
marvelous city on the Baltic Sea, which is ready
to step into the 21st century and will be glad to
unveil its treasures before you...
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