Moscow to host first BRICS tourism forum in June

MOSCOW. June 10 (Interfax) - Moscow will host the first BRICS tourism forum, Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalia Sergunina told reporters on Monday.

"The first BRICS tourism forum will take place in the capital on June 20-21. Delegations from all nine member states, namely, Russia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and South Africa, will attend," Sergunina said.

Over half of non-CIS tourist arrivals in Moscow come from BRICS, she said.

"The forum will add to the Russian capital's status of a leading world tourist center. The business event will involve over 300 representatives of relevant departments, the business community, association heads and industry experts," Sergunina said.

The forum will include expert panels with market majors and a meeting of tourism ministers from BRICS member states, she said.

"This year Russia presides in the expanded BRICS. We will hold a traditional meeting of tourism ministers with emphasis on practical results," the Moscow Tourism Committee cited Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov as saying.

The forum is due to approve a cooperation plan and regulations of the BRICS working group on tourism, he said.

The committee said, for its part, that the forum will begin with a closed-door meeting of the working group, negotiations and presentations of tour operator products and travel services, as well as other industry projects of various states.

Public events will be held on the second day. Speakers at the plenary session will discuss prospects for international cooperation of BRICS members in the current realities, it said.

The Russian Economic Development Ministry will hold the tourist forum together with the Moscow city government.