From 19 to 23 May 2017, a delegation from the city of Murmansk paid a visit to the Turkish sister city of Alanya.
The visit was carried out within the framework of the Agreement on the establishment of twinning relations between Murmansk (Russian Federation) and Alanya (Republic of Turkey), signed on February 14, 2014.
The International Festival of Culture and Art is held annually. Traditionally, the Alanya City Hall invites delegations from sister cities to take part in the festive events.
In 2015, a delegation from Murmansk has already taken part in this festival.
In 2016, due to the tense international situation, cooperation with Alanya was suspended. Nevertheless, after receiving an official invitation to the festival, received by Murmansk city Administration, the possibility of the visit was agreed with the Representative Office of Russian Foreign Ministry in Murmansk.
During the visit, Murmansk delegation not only took part in the festive events, but also held a number of negotiations on tourism development with representatives of the Alanya City Hall, including with the Mayor Adem Murat Yuzhel. Taking into account the geographical position of cities, cooperation in the field of tourism is a priority.
So, on May 22, 2017, an Agreement was signed on interaction and cooperation in the field of tourism between cities. This agreement confirms the intentions to implement mutual information support for the activities of tourist information centers, as well as interaction in the development of measures for the creation and implementation of concepts, programs and plans for the development of mutually beneficial tourist destinations.
In the future, on the basis of this agreement, it is planned to develop cooperation with the tourist information center of Alanya.
In addition, it is planned to hold negotiations with Murmansk tourist companies so that, in addition to vouchers to Alanya, reference information materials are also issued with an indication of the address, contacts of the tourist information center, where Murmansk tourists can apply for help and assistance.
Also, it is planned to exchange materials containing information about the sights and tourist potential of cities, announcements of upcoming events between cities, in order to place them in tourist information centers and on information resources on the Internet.
During the visit, the host country organized a demonstration of tourism infrastructure, both operational and under construction.
Thus, as part of the visit, members of the Murmansk delegation visited the construction site of the cable car, as well as an investment site where a large municipal tourism project is being implemented, including the construction of observation platforms, an amphitheater, picnic areas, as well as cafes and shops.
In addition to infrastructure projects, the members of the delegation were presented with the museum of the sister cities of Alanya, located in the building of the mayor"s office. In it an honorable place is occupied by a panel depicting a panorama of the city of Murmansk against the background of the memorial to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic and a commemorative medal dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Murmansk.
Like Murmansk, Turkish Alanya pays great attention to the development of sister-city relations with other cities and in the park of the sister-cities there is an image of the coat of arms of Murmansk.
In order to further develop cooperation, the Murmansk delegation also invited representatives of Alanya to visit Murmansk in September this year to demonstrate the Gulf Stream festival and present the city"s tourist infrastructure.
