UGLICH, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev urged the country on Friday to develop tourism.
He was speaking during a meeting with the mayors of the so-called Golden Ring towns around Moscow.
"The historical wealth of our cultural heritage is a truly grandiose resource for developing tourism," Medvedev said.
Medvedev said that Russia earned 833 billion rubles ($35.6 billion) from tourism last year, and that the tourist industry employed over one million people nationwide.
Many tourists, especially from Western countries, are put off trips to Russia by visa requirements.
