US Travel Warning: Russia invites US tourists to come and see the safeness themselves

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The US is warning American tourists to 'reconsider' travel to Russia because of the threat of terrorism and harassment. The new travel guidance gives Russia the second-lowest rating for security - and Russia is reacting angrily to what it calls scaremongering. Lucy Taylor reports.

It may be a slow tourism season in Moscow. But every day, thousands of visitors still brave the freezing temperatures to see the famous sights.

"Hi, I'm going to be your tour guide today, I'm Elena, nice to meet you."

But the United States is warning tourists they might get more than a cold reception in Russia. Last week, the U.S. government's new travel advisory says Americans should reconsider travelling here, citing risks of civil unrest, terrorism, and targeted harassment against U.S. citizens.

ELENA YURKEN TOUR GUIDE, MOSCOW FREE TOURS "It's not very fair and it's not true, because when people come to Russia, they realize it's a great place to visit. It's very safe, it's super safe, very pretty, lots of history, lots of culture. And they shouldn't be worried about coming to Russia."

For the tourism industry, this should be a big year.

LUCY TAYLOR MOSCOW "Russia hosts the World Cup in less than five months' time and wants to attract millions of international visitors to see it. But the U.S. is warning its citizens there's a risk of terrorism and harassment from officials. And its new advisory rates Russia as less safe than the Democratic Republic of Congo."

Russia has been the target of terror, including a bomb in a supermarket in St. Petersburg last month. But Moscow says the U.S. wants to scare people away.

MARIA ZAKHAROVA RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN "We think this is another unsubstantiated statement that pours oil on the anti-Russian hysteria in the USA. It is meant to instil fear of Russia in the American people."

Tourists here told us they wont' be put off.

VOX POPS IN ENGLISH: "Very safe. We've been going around in the underground and we haven't had a minute of trouble." "You can be anywhere in the world these days and you don't know what's going to happen, so don't let it stop you doing what you enjoy the most, and we enjoy travelling."

The U.S. says it just wants to keep its citizens safe but Russia wants to show what it has to offer and invites U.S. tourists to come and see it for themselves. Lucy Taylor, CGTN, Moscow.