The government is not likely to back the Ministry of Transport’s plan to drop the requirement for English text on diagrams and signs across subways and other public transport. This stance was voiced in a discussion with NSN by Sergey Golov, head of the Association of Travel Agencies. He argued that the current phase of the military operation in Ukraine is not a suitable moment to trim spending on essential travel information.
“We prepared for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with substantial investments, updating guidebooks and replacing signage in the subway and in apartment buildings as part of a nationwide modernization,” Golov stated. “Now the proposal is to remove that English duplication. If officials behind the scenes are trying to gain popularity or cut costs, that would be shortsighted and could hinder visitor experience.”
Golov warned that scrapping the mandatory English translations would negatively affect inbound tourism and complicate travel for international visitors, including those from Asia and the Americas.
On August 14, the newspaper Kommersant reported that the Ministry of Transport had proposed eliminating the obligatory English duplication in maps and signs for metro lines, a monorail, a funicular, and cable cars. Regions would gain discretion to determine whether English translations are needed, applying local rules for public transport information.
Previously, a declaration from the Union of the Russian Tourism Industry suggested that dropping mandatory bilingual information on public transport would not deter tourists visiting Russia, including travelers from China. The debate reflects a broader tension between standardizing travel information for global visitors and granting local authorities flexibility in how they present essential transit details.
For travelers planning trips to large cities or rural routes in Russia, the issue underscores a practical question: how quickly can multilingual signage adapt to changing traffic, tourism flows, and international expectations? Supporters of the change argue that regional control could tailor information to local needs, speeding up modernization and reducing redundant costs. Critics counter that consistent English signage improves accessibility, safety, and the confidence of international guests navigating unfamiliar systems. These questions matter not only to tourism operators but to foreign visitors who rely on clear, universal cues when navigating urban transit or intercity connections. (Kommersant, August 14)