Moscow will organize the maiden forum on tourism for BRICS member states later this month, a top Russian official said on Monday.
"The first BRICS tourism forum will take place in the capital on 20-21 June. Delegations from all nine member states, namely, Russia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and South Africa, will attend," Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalia Sergunina told the media.
More than 50% of non-CIS visitors in Moscow are from BRICS countries, she added.
Further Sergunina suggested that the forthcoming tourism forum would give a boost to Moscow's status as a prominent tourist center. According to her, the business event will involve over 300 representatives of relevant departments, the business community, association heads and industry experts.
Meanwhile, the forum would comprise experts from the field of tourism besides holding a meeting of BRICS tourism ministers as per a statement of the Russian Economic Development Ministry.
"This year Russia presides in the expanded BRICS. We will hold a traditional meeting of tourism ministers with emphasis on practical results," Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov stated.