VLADIMIR, April 01. /ITAR-TASS/. The Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol have already established close links with Russia in the sphere of culture, now it is necessary to make some legislative changes, Russian Deputy Culture Minister Alla Manilova told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“I can say they are already fully integrated, organisationally and mentally, morally and emotionally,” she said. “But we certainly need to adjust the legislation and the regulatory framework in the cultural sphere. We are actively working on it”. 

Manilova said there were already plans to implement a number of projects aimed to develop Crimea’s tourism, exhibition activity and cultural institutions.

On March 13 to15, before the official accession of new constituent territories to Russia, Crimea’s capital Simferopol hosted a tourism forum entitled ‘Crimea - First Spring’, devoted to strengthening Crimea’s positions in the Russian tourism market as well as preparing for high season. Russian and Crimean tourism officials signed a number of cooperation agreements following the results of the forum, Manilova said.

“All the departments of the ministry are currently working on closer integration of Crimea and Sevastopol both in Russian tourism and in Russian culture. Their representatives have joined relevant coordinating councils,” she said, adding that there were 85 instead of 83 culture ministers today and 85 tourism ministers.

Official statistics record about six million tourists travelling to the Crimean Black Sea coast each year. Market operators say that about two million are Russians.

Crimea’s resort and tourism sector has 825 outlets, including 151 holiday centres and spa resorts, 224 health resorts and 92 resorts for children.