Michelin Says “Da” to Russian Language Guides

Russians wishing to spend their hard earned roubles abroad can now draw upon expert help when visiting Paris, thanks to the launch of Michelin’s first Russian-language guide. The Cyrillic version of the Michelin Paris Green Guide is one of a number of guides, maps and atlases now on sale in bookshops across Russia. Apart from the Paris Green Guide, the range on offer is at present solely available in English – however Michelin states it will release four further Russian-language Green Guides before the end of the year.

The Russian market launch of the Michelin guides indicates the global importance and potential of this market, the French company comments. Russian is the tenth language in which the guides are published. Local company ABBYY Press Publishing has entered into a contract with Michelin Maps & Guides to undertake the translation and adaptation for Russian consumers plus the range’s national distribution.

The Paris guide, the first in Russian, is a whopping 496 page tome containing more than 40 detailed plans of Paris quarters and recommended walking routes, more than 120 photos and reproductions of pictures plus short descriptions of more than 100 hotels and 200 restaurants. A concise Russian-French phrasebook has also been included to assist the baffled Russian tourist when attempting conversation with the locals.

“We are sure that Michelin maps and guides with 100-year-old history and gained authority and trust of readers in countries of Europe, Asia and in the United States of America, will be in demand by Russian consumers,” commented Christian Delhaye, director of Michelin Maps & Guides. “Our production and services in the field of tourism and travel completely corresponds to long-term strategy of Michelin company of better mobility of people, doing their travel easier, more safe, more effective and more enjoyable.”

“For us, the guides are the natural continuation of our company product line, which help people to cooperate and to find easily useful information. Along with digital and printed dictionaries, which has been already managed to earn trust of million end-users, they are important element of Publishing House activity and ABBYY company activity in whole,” said Mikhail Vasyanin, general manager of ABBYY Press Publishing house.