The Republic of Cyprus and the Russian Federation have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in tourism.
The Memorandum formalises the agreement achieved between the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the hosts of the Russian Tourism Exhibition Intourmarket, and concerns the participation of Cyprus as an honorary participant and collaborator in the exhibition which will take place next March in Moscow.
The Cyprus Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Antonis Paschalides, and the Russia Deputy Minister of Tourism, Evgeni Pisarevski signed the Memorandum last Tuesday, a press conference heard here today.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Paschalides said that the Russian market is very important for Cyprus and noted that the Ministry is promoting Cyprus to the Russian market as a tourist destination.
Paschalides stressed the need to simplify procedures for the admission of Russian citizens to Cyprus, noting that he has already discussed the issue of scheduling more flights to and from Russia. He also expressed optimism that the efforts to convince Russian citizens to visit Cyprus will be fruitful.
In his speech at the ceremony, Pascalides said that the close relations between the two countries should be safeguarded, must expand and improve further.
Paschalides also referred to the international financial crisis, noting that inevitably it will affect tourism. However, he said that the government is determined to keep the high standards of the Cyprus tourist product.
The Minister stressed the need “for a collective and coordinated effort by the government, the CTO, the Cyprus Hotel Association, the Cyprus Association of Tourist Agents, as well as the public at large”.
Panos Egglezos, Chairman of the CTO Board, speaking at the ceremony referred to the importance of the participation of Cyprus in the exhibition Intourmarket. “Cyprus, as a collaborator of the Intourmarket Exhibition, will be promoted as a tourist destination to the Russian market”, he said.
The Russian Deputy Minister of Tourism, Evgeni Pisarevski noted that Cyprus is a safe choice for investments. Regarding the Intourmarket, he said that it is the biggest Exhibition in Russia and that Cyprus will have a unique opportunity to attract tourists from all the regions in Russia.
