On June 18-20, in the city of Varna (Bulgaria) Russian-Bulgarian meeting for cruise tourism development was held.

Vladimir Strajlovsky, director of Russian Federal Agency of tourism (Rostourism), headed the Russian delegation. Erjena Mintasova, head of department for international contacts development, Gennadiy Pilipenko, head of department for internal tourism and state tourism projects development and Ekaterina Smirnova, senior consultant of international contacts development department also presented Rostourism at the meeting.

The members of the Russian delegation were: Yuriy Pojidaev, head of the department of complex development of resorts and tourism of the Krasnodar region, Aleksey Elin, deputy head of recreation zones coordination and development of Russian SEZ department,  Gasangadji Kamilov, deputy head of tourism development department of culture ministry of Dagestan, representatives of the leading tourism and shipping companies.

Bulgaria was presented by Stanislav Novakov and Stela Baltova, deputy directors of the State agency of tourism, Kirill Iordanov, mayor of Varna, Dimitr Nikolaev, mayor of Burgas, Nikolay Angelov, mayor of Balchik, and the leading tour operators.

Tourism in Russia and Bulgaria successfully develops. Cruise tourism has the great potential for growth in both countries according to the latest increasing demand for cruise tours. At the same time there is a lack of ship vessels. Port’s infrastructure is underdeveloped, noticed Strajlovsky in the meeting.

Sea cruises are organized in the Northwest of Russia – in Saint-Petersburg, Murmansk, Arhalgelsk, in the littoral areas of Baltiiskoe, Barentsevo and Beloe Seas and also in Sochi.  Though yacht tourism is a comparatively new kind of tourism in Russia, it has already become popular in the country. Russia has a strong potential for yacht tourism development due to the favorable nature conditions.

In spite of rapid world yacht tourism development, different problems hamper the development of the sphere in Russia: lack of necessary infrastructure, a complicated procedure of permission acceptance for the right to navigate in Russian waters. Large investment is also needed for development of the infrastructure of the yacht tourism. The revenue from this tourism is considerable.  The fact that tourist can independently choose the route and schedule of his trip – is a big advantage offered by the yacht tourism.

Bulgaria also plans to develop the sphere. Bulgarians are planning to build new ports besides the existing ones – ports of Varna,  Burgas, Balchik, Zolotye Peski, Nesebr, Ohtopu. There is a lack of cruise vessels in Bulgaria. There is also a great demand for infrastructure necessary to reach a new standard of service in the sphere. Targeting at Russian cruise tourism market is one of the promising choices for Bulgarian tourism industry.   

The countries concluded discussions on the joint cruise tourism development in the Black sea. The next meeting for common tourism development will be held in Gelendjik, on October, 2-4.

The Bulgarians also organized an excursion for Russian delegates to Varna and Balchik and got them acquainted with the local infrastructure.

Source: RussiaTourism.ru