The official opening ceremony of the Cross-year tourism Russia-Greece 2017-2018 was held on September 19 in Moscow as a part of the tourist exhibition “Leisure”.

The joint statement on the intention to hold the Cross-year of tourism was signed by the Greek Minister of Tourism  Elena Kountoura from the Greek side and the Deputy Minister of Culture Alla Manilova from the Russian side. A preliminary plan of bilateral programs and a list of future projects aimed at developing tourism between Russia and Greece were drawn up in addition.

Among the forthcoming events planned within the framework of the joint program of cooperation are the following:

• development and promotion of a cultural route within the framework of the EU project “Shrines of undivided Christianity”;
• Russian-Greek gastronomic week;
• joint marine regatta off the shores of Sochi and in the Ionian Sea.

We shall remind that the same cross-year of tourism was already held in 2016, according to A.Manilova, and the event has brought noticeable results: the tourist flow from Greece to Russia increased by 8%, and the number of Russian tourist in Greece grew by 23% to 850 thousand travelers.

As tourism experts noted, events of this kind contribute to the facilitation of visa procedures, lead to a significant increase in demand for tours and to a reduction in time for issuing permits, increase the number of visa centers, and facilitate the issuance of multiple visas.

Tourism unites people and nations, creates new opportunities for learning about the world. In different regions of Russia and Greece, various activities will be conducted aimed at expanding cooperation between the countries in the field of tourism.

Also in 2017, both Russia and Greece joined the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). It places great responsibility on the countries and will undoubtedly be beneficial to the development of the tourism industry.

On the occasion of the opening of the cross-year, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Russian Federation Andreas Fryganas and Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic Ms. Elena Kountoura held a reception at the Greek Embassy. Representatives of the newspaper “New Crete” were invited to it.