MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The number of Russian tourists planning to travel to Greece has surged by a third this year, Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Nikos Xydakis told Sputnik Wednesday.
Xydakis commented on reports that Greece expected up to two million Russian travelers to go on holiday to the country in 2016.
"There is a safe indicator, which is visa applications – and it points to a rise in the number of tourists by at least a third," the minister said.
He added that the European Union and Russia were set to pick up their bilateral talks on easing the visa regime where they left off in 2013.
"We will act as a reliable mediator that sets conditions and timeframes and appeals to the goodwill of its EU partners," Xydakis promised.
The Greek Embassy in Moscow processes on average 5,500-6,000 visa requests a day, the minister estimated. Some 500,000-600,000 Russian travelers come to Greece every year, despite economic ups and downs.
