Theocharis Secures Russian Vacationer Curiosity To Greece Following 3-day Moscow Excursion

Significantly good success for the resumption of tourism activity in between Russia and Greece, as properly as for the further strengthening of ties between the two international locations, was obtained by the Minister of Tourism, Harry Theocharis, throughout his journey to Moscow.

Throughout his a few-working day keep in the Russian cash, the Minister had a collection of contacts with notable figures in the tourism marketplace, significant-rating authorities officers and associates of the non-public business enterprise sector (tour operators, and so forth.)

He also spoke with the country’s media – print and digital.

There were a lot of publications and studies, exhibiting the successive interviews granted to the Minister, a reality which confirmed the extreme interest of Russian tourists to Greece.

In addition, the amplified publicity ofhis check out was an event for the advertising of our country as an perfect place, with individual emphasis on the safe and sound opening of Greek Tourism for 2021.

Summarising his excursion to Russia, Theocharis pointed out that “my go to to Russia was really constructive.”

“In 2019 we hosted about 500,000 Russian travelers in Greece and with this year’s opening of Greek Tourism we are completely ready to welcome each individual Russian vacationer who desires to invest an unforgettable, definitely protected vacation in our country,” he mentioned.

“The extended-standing friendship amongst Russia and Greece was obvious in all the contacts I had for the duration of my remain in Moscow,” the minister ongoing.

“The love of the Russians for our homeland is reflected in practice, in the gatherings for the anniversary of the Revolution of 1821, but, I would say also in the endeavours that we make alongside one another in buy to free tourist movements and simplify formalities,” he mentioned.

“I leave Russia only with optimistic messages for the resumption of tourist action to Greece,” Theocharis included.

The performing conference of Theocharis with the Deputy Minister of Transport of Russia, liable for tourism, Dmitry Zverev, was of great importance.

In his statements, the Minister of Tourism explained his cooperation with Zverev “as a positive action in the direction of the prevalent direction and our target: The opening of the skies, the risk-free resumption of air journey.”

For his aspect, Zverev welcomed the good frame of mind of Greece in direction of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine and thanked the Greek Minister of Tourism for his being familiar with and cooperation.

In Moscow,  Theocharis also experienced a assembly with the head of the Federal Tourism Organisation, Zarina Valeriyevna Doguzova, as effectively as with representatives of the greatest tour operators in the nation.

As the Minister pointed out, “Russian travellers have already chosen our region as a destination and all that continues to be is the formal liberty to vacation.”

It is underlined that just after his conference with the Minister, the Standard Manager of TUI Russia, Taras Demura said that “in 2021 we will be ready to deliver 300,000 tourists to Greek resorts.”

“A precondition for this is for Russia and Greece to take all the required conclusions so that on Could 14 there can be a resumption of air targeted visitors in between our international locations without having constraints,” he added.

Demura confident Theocharis that TUI Russia will start off charter flights to Crete from Moscow and Yekaterinburg, as effectively as to Corfu from Moscow, Rostov-on-Don and Kazan.

In addition, TUI Russia is prepared to give holidaymakers trips with regular flights to Athens, the resorts of Halkidiki, the Peloponnese, and the islands of Zakynthos and Santorini.

Speaking to the Izvestia newspaper, the Minister of Tourism experienced the possibility to make clear some important factors for the opening of 2021.

Theocharis spelled out that “as we have announced, we intend to open on May possibly 14. This is the date on which most limitations will be lifted and the last procedure will be operational.”

“This suggests that tourists will be accepted, e.g. from Russia if they have either a vaccination certification or a damaging PCR check. Tests will be conducted at airports and those people tested constructive for COVID-19 will be isolated,” he described.

“We are steadily lifting the limits, and particularly for Russia, the conversations are at an state-of-the-art stage,” the minister additional.

Last but not least, he pressured that “Greece has under no circumstances suspended the process of issuing vacation visas to Russian tourists” although in an interview provided to the ITAR-TASS agency, Theocharis said that “we are prepared to welcome holidaymakers from Russia properly for their wellbeing.”

“In Greece last yr we proved that the pandemic does not exclude harmless tourism,” he ongoing.

“Greece has a in depth plan for 2021, which lets us to guarantee that by eradicating both equally domestic and international restrictions, we will be able to be certain general public health and fitness and the wellness of visitors,” the minister pressured.

Read Far more: Greece aims for 500,000 Russian travellers this summer months.