MOSCOW — Russian tourists will be more than welcome in Greece once the country reopens for the summer holidays, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis told Russian media on Wednesday during an official visit to Moscow.

Theocharis scheduled meetings with state officials and representatives of travel agencies ahead of the sector's opening for the summer of 2021.

The Greek minister attended a photography exhibition at ITAR-TASS news agency that honors the Year of Greece-Russia History and the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution. Referring to the traditional friendship between the two peoples, he said the exhibit also "shows how the history, culturl and friendship between the Greek and Russian people reach far into the past and have a long future ahead of them."

Theocharis is scheduled to hold separate meetings on Thursday with head of Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) Zarina Doguzova and Dmitriy Zverev, vice minister of transport.

On Friday (April 16), Theocharis will meet with alternate head of the Culture, Sports, Tourism and National Policy division in the Russian government Christofor Alexandrovich Konstantinidi, honorary consul of Greece in Sochi Dimitri Sarakianidis, and First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolay Kasimov.

During all these meetings the Greek minister will discuss regulations and protocols for reopening the sector and borders under coronavirus pandemic restrictions, and the further expansion of Greek-Russian relations in the tourism sector.

In addition, during his stay in Moscow, Theocharis will meet with the Greek ambassador, the Greek community, Russian officials and investors, the Greek head coach of CSKA Moscow basketball team Dimitrios Itoudis, and the team's owner as well.

Included in his scheduled meetings are representatives of leading travel groups and agencies in Russia – such as Mouzenidis Travel, Tez Tour, Biblio Globus, Pegas, Ambotis, Coral, and TUI – as great interest has been expressed in the restart of Greek tourism, while the minister will also be granting interviews to leading television and news media in Russia.