On 22 February 2007, there was a meeting between the President of the Union of Russian Museums, Chairman of the Creative Union of Museum Workers of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast, Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky and Vice President of the Russian Union of the Tourist Industry Serguey Korneev. Also present at the meeting were Mazim Sokolov, Chairman of the Committee on Investments and Strategic Projects of the Administration of St Petersburg and Vladimir Matveev, Deputy Director of the State Hermitage for Exhibitions and Development. They discussed questions of cooperation between the museum and tourist organizations.

Taking into account the good and businesslike relations that have developed between the State Hermitage and the Russian Union of the Tourist Industry, as well as the charitable investments of the museum in the development of tourism in St Petersburg, Professor Piotrovsky extended the moratorium on raising prices to tourist companies and confirmed the dates of the contractual campaign for 2008: from 1 July through 31 August 2008.

In order to support the "White Days" program introduced by the Administration of St Petersburg, the State Hermitage found it possible to keep the supplemental seasonal discount offered to companies having a contract with the State Hermitage for the period from 14 January through 14 April 2008.

In an attempt to satisfy the wishes of its partners, towards the beginning of the 2007 summer season, invoicing and settlement units will be organized in the building of the Winter Palace.

The term of validity of certificates on completed courses and on the right to carry on commercial tour activities in the Hermitage is set at 3 years (for those who received or extended a certificate under the new rates). At the same time, the State Hermitage directs special attention to the requirement that the rules of conducting tours must be strictly observed and it will immediately strip of this right anyone who is found to be arranging and conducting unauthorized or low-quality tours. The Hermitage reminds everyone that it is a state institution providing services to commercial companies and that it has the right to set the prices for its services.

At the conclusion of the meeting Professor Piotrovsky remarked that the State Hermitage highly appreciates the businesslike relations and the practice of regular consultations and communiques that have developed between the museum and the Russian Union of the Tourist Industry. "We believe that in the future as well we will discuss and solve problems which may arise in the same constructive spirit," said Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky.