Crimea to host tourism exhibition in April - Russian tour operators

MOSCOW, March 21 (Itar-Tass) - In April, the Crimean authorities are planning to hold a tourism exhibition to attract Russian tour operators to the peninsula, Russia’s Travel Industry Union (RST) announced on Friday, with reference to Elena Yurchenko, Minister of Resorts and Tourism of Crimea. Russian tour operators recalled that on February 25-27, Crimea’s resort city of Yalta hosted the 23rd International Tourism Fair entitled “Crimea. Resorts. Tourism. 2014”, held at the Yalta-Intourist hotel complex. “It is quite right to hold another tourism exhibition in late April,” Yurchenko was quoted as saying. “The traditional tourism exhibition in Yalta was held at a time when everything was still unclear. Now there is certainty. We can already speak about a certain strategy, tactics and prospects. And it is very important for the tour operators to join their efforts.” “New conditions require a more flexible approach to their work from Crimean tour operators,” Yurchenko said. “The time of trivial resale of hotel accommodation has passed. A Russian tourist needs an all-in-one tourist product of high quality, including everything - tickets, transfers and excursions. This is an approach that is required nowadays. And Crimean tour operators should give top priority to this.” On March 13 to15, Crimea’s capital Simferopol hosted a tourism forum entitled ‘Crimea - First Spring’, devoted to strengthening Crimea’s positions in the Russian tourism market as well as preparing for high season. Russian and Crimean tourism officials signed a number of cooperation agreements following the results of the forum. Russia’s Travel Industry Union and Association of Tour Operators of Crimea and Sevastopol agreed to join forces to develop Crimea as an all-year resort. They signed a cooperation agreement stipulating the sharing of experience and joint participation in workshops and exhibitions. The Crimean authorities have promised to ensure comfort and security of guests on the peninsula that has been a top-rated cluster of seaside and mountainous resorts since the beginning of the 19th century. According to official data, about six million tourists travel to the Crimean Black Sea coast annually. Market operators estimate that about two million of them are Russians. There are about 15,000 restaurants and cafés in Crimea, 825 hotels and health resorts and about 4,500 private lodging facilities.