I. Metshin: “Kazan is ready to act as a platform for hosting events of the World Tourism Organization”

(KZN.RU, April 20). Ilsur Metshin paid an official visit to the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid. Zoltan Shomogi, the executive director of the organization, welcomed the head of the city. The possibilities of holding the events of the World Tourism Organization in Kazan and including the capital of Tatarstan in the list of one of the world's largest tourist centers were discussed during the meeting.

Ilsur Metshin in a conversation with Zoltan Shomogi noted that Kazan is seriously growing in terms of a tourist flow. “We are doing it professionally, but there is no limit to growth. And this is the reason, along with others, why we are in your hospitable office: to find common ground and offer you Kazan as one of the venues for hosting events of the World Tourism Organization of any format in the long term”, said the head of the city.

The Mayor of Kazan spoke about the development of Kazan as a venue for various events, including on the international level. “Not only Moscow and St. Petersburg but Kazan is increasingly becoming a place where leaders of different directions gather for decision-making. Kazan has the experience of holding international forums, in addition, we have a very hospitable and safe city”, noted I. Metshin. The head of the capital of the RT invited the leadership of the World Tourism Organization to personally assess the tourism opportunities of Kazan during the reciprocal visit to the city.

Zoltan Shomogi in the course of the presentation told Ilsur Metshin about the activities of the World Tourism Organization, its history, structure and main tasks. Ilsur Metshin marked the importance of sharing experiences and holding similar presentations for the capital of Tatarstan, which is interested in developing tourism and promoting this market of services on the world stage.

The main topic of the meeting was the possibility of Kazan's participation in the programs of the World Tourism Organization. Zoltan Shomogi noted that he was acquainted with the hospitality of Kazan firsthand. “I was in Tatarstan, where I met with Mr. Sergei Ivanov (the chairman of the State Committee for Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan – ed.), I saw how Kazan is developing successfully”, he said. According to Zoltan Shomogi, the capital of Tatarstan today is one of the largest tourist centers in Russia, as evidenced by the development dynamics of the inbound tourism to the city, and the UNWTO is ready to consider the candidacy of Kazan for inclusion in the world list of tourist centers.

The significance of Kazan's participation in the programs of the World Tourism Organization is conditioned by the fact that the capital of Tatarstan is an outpost of the world famous “Silk Road”, which is included in one of the directions of world tourism. In addition, the year 2017 is declared by the UN a year of tourism, which is consistent with the goals of sustainable development of cities that are part of the United Cities and Local Government.

Rasikh Sagitov, the general secretary of the UCLG Eurasian Branch, Evgenia Lodvigova, the deputy head of the Kazan Municipality, Daria Sannikova, the director of the Tourism Promotion Committee of the Executive Committee, Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, the counselor-ambassador of the Russian Embassy in Spain, and others took part in the event.

For reference

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was established in The Hague in 1925. 156 states are its members. It is the leading international organization in the field of tourism, part of the UN structure, and engaged in the development of sustainable and generally accessible tourism. The World Tourism Organization finances and implements development projects in the field of tourism, and transfers tourism experience to developing countries for sustainable development.