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Conference of ministers of tourism due in Sochi in summer - RF culture minister

MOSCOW, March 17, /ITAR-TASS/. A conference of ministers of tourism of countries included in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) is due in Sochi in June, Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky said on Monday at the meeting with Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization.

“This is a major function, and it is great honour to Russia to host such a forum,” Medinsky said. “We have achievements to present,” he said. “Sochi is now a good tourism pad for discussing the strategy of the development of other cities that used to host Olympic Games,” Medinsky said. “All these cities have the same task - to use the Olympic legacy effectively,” the minister added.

Taleb Rifai, who was invited to the conference, said the forum would help establish cooperation among tourism ministers. He said the UNWTO regarded the conference as its own and invited to it 53 delegations from various countries, most of which had already confirmed their intention to participate in the forum.

Taleb Rifai noted that Russia had successfully held the Olympic Games in Sochi that were watched by people across the world. He said the UNWTO had been aware of the importance of what happened with the Olympic legacy after the events and that Russia could set an example for its effective use.

Terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

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