European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Monument to the red army is toppled in a former soviet Republic. Much of the soviet Union is getting a new look and americans want to see it for themselves by Rick Gladstone the associated press Ann Rudeen never thought of visiting the soviet Union. Then she watched the televised revolution that seemed to transform a communist superpower into a benign Behemoth. Quot i identify with the russians. I think everyone does at this Point Quot said Rudeen a new York free Lance writer who along with husband Kenneth bought space on a we Klong tour to St. Petersburg and Moscow next month. The rude ens Are among an increasing number of formerly sceptical americans bombarded by television images and newspaper accounts of astonishing changes in the soviet Union who want to get a personal glimpse. Quot now you get up one morning and see the Kab has been disbanded Quot Ann Rudeen said. Quot one answer i guess is to go Over there and look at what we be been so afraid of All these  tour operators report people from a Range of backgrounds Are signing up for packages. If the Rush continues it could help soften the pain from what has been a sickly year for travel in general and soviet Union travel in particular. Quot there is growing interest Quot said Caroline Cavalli president of the russian travel Bureau inc., which has Laden organizing Tours into the soviet Union for 20 years. Quot we re seeing the person who never thought about going to Russia now identifying with the russian  an official at the scheduled airlines travel offices overseas the army s on base travel Agency in Germany said Sato has also noted the increase. Yes there has been a great upsurge in interest in travel to Moscow Quot he said Quot but Only since the  the official said top Tours which runs Tours to the soviet Union for Sato had been averaging 20 to 30 bookings per tour prior to the coup attempt. But the company s october trip is already fully booked with 30 and the november trip is nearly full. Top Tours had not planned any Tours for the Winter months Quot but with the interest it looks like they will Quot the Sato official said. It s difficult to quantify the Ini Rease but the heightened Appeal of the soviet Union As a travel destination also has coincided with a significant decline in prices. The drop in costs reflects both the Kremlin s desperation for hard foreign currency and the weakening grip of the state run travel authority i tourist which no longer monopolizes the foreign tourism business. On average tour prices have dropped about 25 percent from a year earlier said Mara Koltonow a guide for general Tours of new York a leading Agency for tourist packages to the soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In some cases she said prices for a we Klong tour with hotels is about half the 1990 Price. Quot i think the i tourist people realized they overpriced themselves. They had Felt they were the Only game in town Quot she said. The abortive plot to topple president Mikhail Gorbachev and subsequent events have been the primary catalyst arousing the american tourist appetite. Quot we get people from Small towns Middle aged couples to retired ladies to Young adventurers Quot Koltonow said. Quot it truly is a Cross  Virginia Adams owner of a horse farm in Saratoga n.y., said she was inspired to make a trip with her daughter and granddaughter simply out of an enormous curiosity. They re spending $2,500 per person for a 10-Day tour including the air fare. Quot i be never been to Russia. I m 71. I m not one of the kids Quot she said. Quot i realize we re not going to be staying in the Hilton. But  s not Why i m going in the first  still tour operators Are reluctant to predict How Long the Booklet will last. Veterans of the soviet travel business remain painfully aware of sudden convulsions that have burned them before. For example american visits to the soviet Union lose sharply in the late 1 970s As detente flourished but the Kremlin invasion of Afghanistan crushed that rally and the number of . Tourists tumbled. In the Early 1 9m0s americ an visits grew again is i lulled superpower relations thawed somewhat Rea it Hing 101,500 entries in 1 985, figures in tided by in tourism show. The next year looked even stronger until the disaster at the chernobyl run Lear Power Plant and the number of visits ended lower at h5,000. A amps Kon Georgus. Basil s Cathedral in Moscow is part of the old Russia on tourists itineraries. In Louvist says the number of Mem a visits has jumped every year sine e then reaching 2 i 3,000 in i 990, but has not released statistic s Lor i 99 i. David Pairy president and c Hief executive Attu i of the Mem an soviet tourism society an umbrella group of tour c Ompa Mes estimated that even with the Post coup rebound the number of Mem an visit is to the soviet Union would probably total Only 73,000 this year. Quot we re hopeful about this Blip up we be seen but who Kia Ives he said Quot i Here s a lot of pm id Tec a Ling and euphoria. I he question is How it Long it will c  Trovola outdoor Rifer Norm Zeigler contributor to this Story september 2b, v 91 stripes Magazine 3