For the first time, MITT 2012 will be hosting a sea cruising conference on 22nd March 2012 in Moscow, Russia, during which cruise operators will be able to meet with travel agents and tour operators to introduce their company and develop business contacts.

The conference has been launched in response to the growth of the sector; and will cover the integration of domestic tourism into the global cruise market, the formation and development of the cruise market in Russia, new routes and special onboard services. Atlantic Sealines and the Passenger Port of St Petersburg are partners to the one day conference.

The one day conference will run alongside MITT (Moscow International Travel and Tourism), Russia’s leading travel exhibition. In 2011, over 3,000 companies from 189 countries and regions exhibited at the exhibition. Exhibitors showcased their countries and services to 79,930 visitors over 4 days from 479 Russian cities and 95 other countries.

According to travel company, Atlantis Line, the most popular cruises taken by Russians are to the UAE, followed by winter trips in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. Winter trips are also popular due to the low rates. In Sochi, on the Black Sea, plans are underway to build an international sea passenger and cruise centre by 2014, which will also serve modern cruise ships and ferries.

In addition, at MITT 2012 the Palau Tourism Board will exhibit for the first time and in 2011, fourteen new destinations joined the exhibition to promote their country and individual appeal to tourists. The luxury sector at MITT has also increased, as many luxury hotels and service providers have expressed their interest in the exhibition, due to Russian tourists outnumbering Europeans in many luxurious resorts.

MITT exhibitor, Alfredo Perez Bravo, Mexican Ambassador in Moscow, commented: “Mexico recently entered the Russian tourism market and, within a short space of time, from 2007 to 2010, tourist arrivals have grown from 1,400 to 30,000 per year.  Currently, the Russian market is the fastest growing tourism market in Europe for Mexico.”

MITT takes place on 21st – 24th March 2012, at the Expocentre, Moscow, Russia.