Kazan 2013 presented at Russian-Baltic Tourism Forum

The Balttour Forum: Focus on the CIS Countries takes place in Riga, Latvia on February 6-9. The Balttour Forum also offers the 1st Russian-Baltic Culture and Tourism Forum held by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in conjoint with the Baltic Branch Office of the Russian Union of Travel Industry. The event saw the presentations of hottest and most cost-effective travel opportunities and deals in Russia and a number of major international events, among them the 27th Summer Universiade. Azat Kadyrov, Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, had the honour to introduce the audience to the premier university sports event due to be held in Kazan in the summer of 2013.

With growing global competition for tourists, Russia and Baltic States should be urged to come together to be sold touristically as one unified region. The purpose of our country is to join efforts with international partners in order to create a common platform for promoting the Russian culture. These and other issues were mentioned in the speeches of Deputy Alla Manilova, Russia's Deputy Minister of Culture, and Mayor of Riga Nil Ushakov. The meeting resulted in the signing of tourism cooperation protocols between the Ministry of Tourism of the Kaliningrad Region, Riga Tourism Development Bureau (RTAB), Russian Association of Small Tourist Towns, Union of Local and Regional Self-Governments of Latvia, Baltic Branch Office of the Russian Union of Travel Industry and German Tourism Association (DTV). Plenary sessions, presentations, seminars and panel discussions took place on February 7-8. The programme of activities will culminate in the press conference hosted by the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism and presentations of Russian regions which are scheduled for today.