The 2nd International Black Sea Tourism Forum and the Meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Cooperation in Tourism (Yalta, Ukraine, 27-28 February 2013)

The 2nd International Black Sea Tourism Forum was held in Yalta, Ukraine, from 27-28 February 2013, as part of the 22nd International Tourism Fair (Yalta, 27 February-1 March 2013) and in parallel to the meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Cooperation in Tourism (28 February 2013).

The Forum, with the main theme of “Multiculturalism of Black Sea cities as an effective tourism resource”, was organized by the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine, and its Ministry of Health Resorts and Tourism. The event gathered participants from the BSEC Member States (Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Republic of Turkey), representatives of the central governments and local authorities, cultural and scientific institutions, tourist organizations, associations and travel agencies.

Executive Manager of the BSEC Permanent International Secretariat (BSEC PERMIS) Ambassador Bratislav DORDEVIC attended the opening ceremony of the Tourism Fair and delivered a statement at the opening of the Forum.

The representatives of the BSEC Member States and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea who spoke during the first day of the Forum focused mainly on the experiences and potentials of their respective countries or regions in tourism and of linkages between tourism and culture. Some of the themes addressed during the Forum were “The expansion of cooperation in tourism in the Black Sea region” (Georgia), “The interaction of culture and tourism: government regulation and integrated development” (Russian Federation), “The use of cultural heritage for tourism as a factor for the multicultural development” (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) and “The tourist potential of Azerbaijan” (Republic of Azerbaijan).

The representatives of local authorities, tourist companies and chambers of commerce also actively took part in the event addressing topics such as “Bakhchisaray – the intersection of tourism and culture” (Bakhchisaray District State Administration), “The use of multicultural Black Sea region potential for the attraction of foreign tourists - the private sector role” (Turkish Airlines), “Prospects and problems of cruise tourism development in the Black Sea” (INFLOT Worldwide Tours Ukraine) and “The integration of European standards into the tourism business of Ukraine” (European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ukraine).

During the second day of the Forum presentations were made on the linkage between tourism
and multiculturalism by the representatives of the cultural and scientific institutions of Ukraine.
At the conclusion of the Forum, the participants approved the “Memorandum on Multiculturalism of
the Black Sea cities as an effective tourism resource” which, inter alia, offered “to the BSEC to
increase the support of the projects towards co-creation and promotion of common tourist
products, based on the use of resources of the Black Sea macro-region’s multiculturalism in the
international tourism market.” After its approval, the Memorandum was also presented at the
meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Cooperation in Tourism.

www.bsec-organization.org