Greek-Russian tourism relations
It was a whirlwind trip for Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia, who went to Moscow to open the Greek stand at the MITT 2007 international tourism exhibition. The stand – dressed in the blue of the Aegean, the white of the islands and marble, and the gold of the sunset – impressed visitors and won a prize for the best stand. The number of Russians visiting Greece has doubled in recent years, and is now their fifth favorite destination, becoming more popular as the Greek Consul General in Moscow can now issue visas promptly. «The Russians are generous and they stand out from other tourists. For every euro they spend, the Greek economy earns two,» said Palli-Petralia in a press conference at the MITT. During the trip, on which Helbi was invited, there was a concert by the State Orchestra of Moscow playing works by Alexander Galzunov, Dimitris Arapis and Mikis Theodorakis, attended by Culture and Communications Minister A.S. Sokolov, who congratulated the composer. The minister opened an exhibition of works by contemporary painters, including Christos Carras, Costas Tsoklis, Pavlos Dionysopoulos, Dimitris Mytaras and Alekos Fassianos in the foyer of the concert hall. Also on the program was a concert with Maria Farandouri at the Technology Museum in St Petersburg, where Palli-Petralia laid a wreath at the statue of Ioannis Capodistrias, the first governor of free Greece. Eurovision entrant Sarbel made an impression singing «Yassou Maria» at the Greek stand, adding the greeting in Russian, «Previet Maria.»
