The inaugural BRICS Tourism Forum concluded in Moscow, marking a significant milestone in the collaboration among the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The forum, which assembled over 600 leading experts, business leaders, and government representatives, showcased a commitment to advancing the tourism sector across member countries.
The key outcomes of the business-to-business negotiations at the forum were the signing of 12 commercial agreements among tourism sector representatives from the BRICS countries and the announcement of the establishment of the BRICS Tourism Cities Club. This club aims to foster inter-regional tourism and provide a platform for direct dialogue between BRICS representatives.
Additionally, discussions at the forum are expected to shape future strategies in areas like innovation, sustainability, digitization, and city-level cooperation in the tourism sector among BRICS nations. The event also featured the first meeting of the BRICS Tourism Working Group, which was initiated by South Africa in 2018 and realized under Russia’s BRICS presidency this year. This platform will develop practical actions for tourism cooperation among BRICS countries.
Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, underscored the potential of tourism as a vital economic sector for BRICS countries. He highlighted Russia’s expectations of over 90 million tourist trips this year, a 30% increase from pre-COVID figures. Reshetnikov also introduced the “Discover Russia” program, a new initiative aimed at promoting Russian tourism under a unified brand, which seeks to present an authentic image of Russia to international tourists.
Chinese and Egyptian tourism officials emphasized the importance of sustainable and inclusive tourism development. They advocated for initiatives that benefit all stakeholders and foster cultural exchange and understanding between nations.
The establishment of the BRICS Tourism Cities Club was proposed as a strategic initiative to enhance inter-regional tourism and facilitate direct communication among BRICS city representatives. This new platform aims to encourage cooperation at the city level, further driving tourism growth and development.
In summary, the first BRICS Tourism Forum in Moscow has laid a robust foundation for future collaboration and growth in the tourism sector among the BRICS nations. The forum facilitated significant business-to-business deals and laid the groundwork for enhanced tourism cooperation and coordination among the BRICS nations going forward. The event highlighted the collective commitment to leveraging tourism as a key economic driver and fostering deeper cultural connections between member countries.
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