OREANDA-NEWS. April 20, 2011. On the Cosmonautics Day and the International Day of man-in-space flight, a meeting of Vladivostok Air management and delegations from the governments: Primorye, Magadan, and Sakhalin regions, Khabarovsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with representatives of the major Chinese tour operators was held in Beijing. The meeting was initiated by the General Director of Vladivostok Air Trans Vladislav Gumenny in the capital of China — Beijing to promote the tourist attraction of the Far East.

Significance of the event emphasized the presence at the presentation of Russian officials: 2nd Embassy Secretary of Russia in China Chernousov Alexander and a representative of Ministry of Transport in China Victor Stefanovich.

To date, there is a clear imbalance of tourist flows between China and Russia. For example, in 2010, from Primorye had left 440,000 people as tourists to China, and from China to Primorye entered totally 33 thousands of tourists and businessmen. While the Far-Eastern regions have unique, in the first place, natural features for setting up tourism.

As the representatives of regional administrations in each of the subjects taking steps to encourage tourism, which are made in the sense of the overall direction of the federal target program for economic and social development of the Far East. The organization of such a representative meeting was a logical step for its implementation.

Delegations of the Russian regions in their slide and video presentation showed the unique nature of the Far Eastern region, spoke about the historical and cultural landmarks presented tour itineraries. In each subject, there are many interesting places that can attract tourists from neighboring states. Volcanoes and hot springs in Kamchatka, hunting and fishing on the rivers of Magadan region, clear lakes and ski resorts in Sakhalin, rich taiga of Primorye and Khabarovsky krai, the objects of the forthcoming APEC-2012 in Vladivostok…

According to Chinese tour operators, there is a need for eco-tourism, and in view of the population and the potential number of tourists, one can conclude almost unlimited potential of tourism to the Russian Far East.

Cost, comfort and safety of travel — these are the factors, primarily concerns the Chinese tourists to travel to Russia. The company Vladivostok Air has already taken the first steps to intensify the flow of tourists. From the Far-Eastern cities: Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are carried out direct flights to Chinese cities Beijing and Harbin, starting from July 1st it is opened flights on routes of Khabarovsk — Dalian and Vladivostok — Dalian. It is worked out the issue of opening the flight of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — Beijing; sales agents are offered flexible rate plans, transfer routes, visa and booking rooms in hotels of Beijing.

The meeting participants noted that capacity the joint efforts of air carriers and regions should eventually give a positive effect, and a meeting in Beijing is very useful for improving good neighborly and mutually beneficial relations.