Tourism, Promotion of Local Products Top Crete – Russia Talks Agenda

Russian Ambassador to Greece Andrei Maslov and Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis.

Boosting incoming tourism from Russia to Crete and promoting Cretan products to the Russian market where the focus of talks between Crete regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis and the Russian Ambassador to Greece, Andrei Maslov, last week.

The two men met ahead of a joint inter-ministerial committee held in Iraklion, with the participation of Foreign Affairs Minister George Katrougalos and Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov. On the sidelines of the committee, the University of Crete organized a conference on “Transport and Tourism in the Globalized World”.

“We discussed all the issues of interest affecting the region, with particular attention to tourism as well as to promoting Cretan products to the Russian market,” said Arnaoutakis, adding that there is “a very significant flow of tourism to the island”.

“We want to see this relationship with Russia grow even stronger, we share the same faith, we have enjoyed an excellent relationship over time and I think that attracting tourists from Russia can be a significant source of revenue for the island, which can be achieved via synergies,” Arnaoutakis said.

“We have been discussing the prospects for cooperation between Crete and Russia in various fields and in the tourism sector. We are very pleased that arrivals of Russian tourists to Greece have increased significantly and especially to Crete,” said Maslov, adding that “42 percent of Russian tourists visiting Greece come to Crete, a very important destination for Russian tourists”.