Greece, Russia pondering "European Pilgrimage Route"

Ms Manilova said she had discussed the issue with Greek Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, who agreed on the initiative. The idea comes after the Greek Tourism Ministry and Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency (Rostourism) signed an agreement to encourage mutual tourist flow, simplify tourism-related formalities, and establish contacts between Russian and Greek travel operators including a series of joint actions to promote tourist exchanges over the next two years.

“Religious and pilgrimage tourism is a key priority”, Ms Kountoura said earlier last month addressing the Greek-Russian Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism Conference — within the framework of the ongoing Greece-Russia Cross-year events – held in Lagonissi. The event included presentations on pilgrimage routes in Greece and Russia. The minister added that many markets have already expressed interest in religious and pilgrimage tours at Greek destinations.