Athens Meet to Explore Russia-Greece Cooperation in Tourism

Ways to work together in tourism will top the agenda of the “Russia-Greece: Prospects for Cooperation in Tourism” conference which kicks off on May 10 in Athens.

The three-day event, held under the auspices of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency and the Greek Economy, Development and Tourism Ministry, brings Russian tourism sector representatives to Athens to present ways for Greece and Russia to work together tooth countries. 

Key speaker of the event will be Russian Federation Federal Agency for Tourism chief Oleg Safonov, and will also include presentations from the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI), tour operators and experts.

Despite a 48 percent drop due to the ruble/euro exchange rate in the tourist flow from Russia to Greece in the first  nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, the Greek National Tourism Organization expects incoming tourism from Russia to pick up pace particularly in view of friendlier prices at all-inclusive hotels, the easier visa procedure, as well as discounts offered at shops across Greece.

In the meantime, the number of Greek travelers visiting Russia increased by 7 percent for the 2015 nine-month period.