2018 is declared the reciprocal tourism year between Russia and Greece. The agreement on holding the tourism year was signed on September 19, 2017 by Elena Kundur, the Minister of Tourism of Greece and Alla Manilova, the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation. The campaign continues the 2016 Year of Russia and Greece, during which a broad program of cultural and tourism events was organized.
Russia and Greece have long been united by historical and cultural values. The relations between the two countries originated in the VIII century BC, when the first Greek settlements appeared on the Black Sea. Greece, the successor of the Byzantine Empire, is considered the birthplace of Russian Christianity. In Constantinople, the ancient Russian rulers Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir I were baptized, and then in 988 Christianity became the dominant religion in Russia.
In addition, there is a so-called "geographical" link between Russia and Greece. The Greek heritage of the Black Sea region has become the subject of research by Russian scientists, and the descendants of Greek citizens have made a valuable contribution to the development of geographical science. For example, among them there is Egor Pavlovich Manganari, the author of the sailing directions of the Azov and Black seas, a description intended for the needs of navigation.
A number of cultural and educational events are planned as part of the Russia-Greece Tourism Year: a "Golden voice of Greece” concert in Moscow, Russian-Greek gastronomic week, a joint regatta in the Ionian and Black seas and others.
The Russian Geographical Society also holds events dedicated to the Year of Tourism, for example, a tourism festival "Antique heritage of Russia".
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