Cross-Year Tourism of Russia and Greece started

Gala opening of Cross-Year Tourism of Russia and Greece took place in Moscow on Septenber 19. Two countries will participate in developing the cultural itinerary as a part of European Council project titled Relics of Unseparated Christianity. Russian-Greek gastronomic week and regatta in the Ionian Sea and Sochi are planned, IA Interfax reports.

Deputy Culture Minister of the Russian Federation Alla Manilova has reminded that the parties conducted the cross-year of tourism a year ago. It showed perfect results. In particular, tourist flow from Greece to our country has increased by eight percent and from Russia to Greece by twenty-three percent. Around eight hundred fifty thousand Russian tourists visited this European country a year ago. First six months of the current year proved that Greece remains a very popular country for our tourists – the tourist flow has increased by sixteen percent more.

These figures imply communication between people, learning history, culture and traditions apart from the finances brought by tourists into budgets of the two countries. The Year of Tourism turns into a mighty motivation of joint development. “It’s live communication of our citizens, getting to know history, culture, nature, traditions, strengthening of friendship. This is an opportunity to provide a strong motivation of joint development” – Manilova said.

One of the consequences of Cross-Year Tourism is simplification of visa procedures. Facing high demand last year Greece decreased period for issuing visas, increased a number of visa centers and started issuing multiple visas more often.

Russkiy Mir