KAZAN, November 9. /TASS/. Russian and Kazakh presidents have become acquainted with the Russian region of Tatarstan’s tourism industry during the Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum held in Petropavlovsk. Head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to visit the ancient city of Bolgar, Minnikhanov’s press service informed on Friday.

"Minnikhanov has noted the development of such tourist destinations as the ancient city of Bolgar. Rustam Minnikhanov addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin with an offer to visit the ancient city of Bolgar and to invite Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to appreciate the city’s attractions," the message states.

The head of Tatarstan talked about a projected number of tourists in 2018, as well as the cooperation with Kazakhstan and the tourist flow from Kazakhstan to Tatarstan. Minnikhanov expressed hope that the tourism between Kazakhstan and Tatarstan will grow, due to the recently approved project "The Great Volga Route", which aims to develop tourism in Kazakhstan and certain regions of Russia.

The fifteenth Russian-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum kicked off in Russia’s Petropavlovsk on November 9. Russian and Kazakh ministry heads, officials, business and tourism representatives are participating in the forum.

After the forum’s plenary session, a number of documents were signed in the presence of Putin and Nazarbayev, including the Joint Action Plan of Russia and Kazakhstan for 2019-2021.