“The Russian tourist traffic to Italian Liguria in 2016 began to return to its normal volumes”, - reported the Director General of the Agency for the Promotion of Liguria Carlo Fidenza at the presentation of the tourist potential of the region in Moscow. "Although for the period of several previous years the tourist flow from Russia to Liguria was falling due to the economic crisis, last year it began to return to its normal level.

“Interdepartmental Commission at the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation issued permission to "Pobeda" airline for regular flights from Moscow to the Turkish resort Alanya”, - it was reported on the Federal Air Transport Agency website on Wednesday. The carrier will fly to Alanya airport "Gazipasa" up to seven times a week.

S7 Airlines, the member of the global airline alliance Oneworld, and Meridiana airline have expanded the code-share agreement. They will carry out joint flights on the route Moscow - Milan - Moscow. The flights will be performed since March 27 four times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays by modern Boeing 737.

“S7 Airline will open regular flights program from Moscow to Catania - a resort town on the Italian island Sicily – from April 27, 2017”, - said the press service of the carrier. Direct flights to Catania airport will be performed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Departure from Moscow "Domodedovo" airport is at 8:00 and arrival is at 11:10 of local time. The return flight - at 12:05 from Catania and landing in Moscow at 17:10. The flights will be carried out on Airbus A320, equipped with economy and business class lounges. Catania is the sixth Italian direction on the S7 Airline flight’s map. The airline also performs schedule flights to Verona, Naples, Turin, Pisa and in the summer season - Genoa.

“The number of Italian visas issued for Russians will amount about half a million by the end of 2016”, - said on Wednesday the Italian Ambassador to Russia Cesare Maria Ragalini. "This is less than in previous years, but 95% of Italy visas issued to Russians are multiple, and reducing of the number of new visas – is a consequence of this policy" , - said C.Ragalini at the opening of the second Italian visa center in Moscow.

“S7 Airlines will perform direct flights from Moscow to Pisa airport (Italy) since April 26, 2017”, - reported the press service of the carrier. Flights will be carried out on Wednesdays and Saturdays with departure from Moscow airport "Domodedovo" at 8:00 and arrival at 10:55 of local time.

“The Interdepartmental Commission at the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation has refused to "Pobeda" to perform regular flights to Turin”, - according to the published order of the Federal Air Transport Agency on Tuesday. The carrier requested admittance of flights on this destination 7 times a week.

Russian low cost carrier "Pobeda" was assigned to the regular route Moscow - Pisa. It was reported by the federal media, referring to the General Director of the company Andrey Kalmykov. As the head of the "Pobeda” explained, the negotiations with the Italian airport have been conducted and now the company is expecting to permission note from the Foreign Ministry, then the flights will begin - already in the winter season.

The airline company S7 will start weekly direct flights to Turin from December 24. The flights will be carried out by Airbus A320, equipped with economy and business class sections. Tickets are already on sale. "The S7 expands its flight geography to Italy in the winter schedule and offers flights to Turin.

Italy and Spain have became the most popular European destinations for Russian tourists in the autumn season of 2016 - the portal "Interfax-Tourism" was reported in the “BSI group” company. "In autumn period the demand to Italy among the Russian tourists increased by 37% in comparison with the same period of the last year, to Spain – by 35%.

Italian air carrier Meridiana will resume in summer season the flights from Pulkovo in Naples, and the Belgian Brussels Airlines - to Brussels. Airline Russia will open from St. Petersburg regular flights to the Italian Rimini. "In the upcoming season, flight frequency from Pulkovo airport will be increased to more than ten destinations in Russia and abroad, including Riga, Apatity, Minsk, Kishinev, Simferopol and other cities. In addition, several air carriers are in the process of harmonization of formalities with the aeronautical authorities, and are planning to open flights from Pulkovo to new foreign destinations," a statement of the Northern Capital Gateway (manages Pulkovo airport) said.

The number of Russians who visited Italy in February 2015 decreased by 21.9% compared with the same month of the last year and amounted 50 thousand people. However, their total expenditure fell by 48.8%, from 86 million to 44 million euros, according to data released by the Bank of Italy.

Tour operator Biblio Globus opened the summer flight program to Italy, flights are operated by "Transaero" to Rome, Milan, Rimini and Venice, the press department of the tour operator reported. The flights to Rome are operated on daily basis; to Milan - on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; to Rimini on Wednesdays and Saturday; and to Venice on Saturdays.

Italy expects to issue this year at least 500 thousand visas to Russians that is much less than in previous years. "Because of the crisis, changes in currency exchange rates, tourist activity decreased. We expect to issue this year, at least 500 thousand visas to Russians, while last year we issued 800 thousand visas," the General Consul of Italy in Russia Pergabrielle Papadum de Bottini said.

Rome is interested in more cooperation with Russia in the tourism sector. Italy launched a Russian web page about tourism to Italy, as the Italian Embassy in the Russian Federation reported to Interfax.

Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should make a list of the UNESCO world cultural heritage "more diverse and fair," Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said at the conference of SCO culture ministers on Monday. The Russian minister pointed out that in his opinion, there were more monuments of European, rather than SCO culture on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage at present.

Russian low-cost carrier Pobeda has canceled flights to Italy scheduled for March 11 through 31 after a quarantine imposed by the Italian government on some provinces.