PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) is one of the key centres of industrial tourism in Russia. The plant hosts various tours both offline and virtually, with plans to expand its tourist programmes. Nikolay Zvyagin, member of the MMK Management Board and head of the Prospective Development Department, discussed the Company's plans during a session entitled "Development of Industrial Tourism" at the international industrial exhibition Innoprom-2021 in Yekaterinburg.

  MMK is one of the most well-known ferrous metallurgy enterprises in Russia and abroad, whose history is closely tied to the modern history of Russia. Today, MMK is a modern company that operates the best available technologies, in addition to being a socially responsible business: the plant pays significant attention to the well-being of the residents of Magnitogorsk and the Chelyabinsk region. In 2017, MMK management approved a decision to develop industrial tourism at the plant's production site, which has since become another important social project for Magnitogorsk.

"The implementation of this project marks a new approach to organizing visits to MMK, one that promotes the popularization of the work of metallurgists, increases the tourist attractiveness of the city and boosts the development of small- and medium-sized businesses," Mr Zvyagin said at the session. 

MMK has achieved significant results in the field of industrial tourism. Currently, four tourist routes operate at the plant as part of the project Steel Route: Excursions to MMK. These include two routes for children aged 6 -14 years (titled "At Dad's Place of Work" and "Guests of the Metallurgists") and two routes for adults (titled "Taming Fire" and "Steel Evolution").

The plant pays special attention to the safety of its guests when visiting the production site: they are shown a safety video tutorial and are allowed to enter the industrial site only in protective shoes and overalls. Guided tours are led by trained guides, and each guest is provided with a radio guide system.

The Company has shown a flexible approach to the development of industrial tourism. In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, excursions to the enterprise were suspended. In response, MMK launched a series of historically-themed virtual tours called "Victory Route", which included four virtual tours dedicated to the contribution of the MMK to the WWII victory in 1945.

To date, more than 15,000 people have visited MMK as tourists, including approximately 2,500 children. "At the same time, we are not stopping at our current achievements," Mr Zvyagin stressed at the session. "Our plans include, among other things, the creation of virtual tours to hard-to-reach and dangerous workshops of the plant. In addition, in July 2021, we plan to launch a new route where tourists will be able to admire views of the city and the plant from the vantage point of the water's surface."

Mr Zvyagin said that MMK has reached an agreement with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) on the creation of a working group to prepare for the opening of the first Russian centre dedicated to industrial tourism. The centre will become a platform for representatives of various enterprises to share their experience and learn best practices in the field of industrial tourism. In addition, MMK plans to hold an interregional forum on industrial tourism in Magnitogorsk in October 2021.

MMK Press Service