Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said he hopes that the tourist flow from Israel to Ukraine will increase.
During a meeting with Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov in Kyiv on Thursday, the premier said: "Many of our citizens travel to Israel, and we welcome this, but we would like to draw your attention to the fact that Ukraine also has many historical sites, a rich culture, and nature."
Azarov expressed hope that the agreement on the visa-free regime between Ukraine and Israel will contribute to a rapprochement of the two countries and will become a step towards the strengthening of bilateral relations.
In addition, the premier stressed that Ukraine is interested in Israel’s achievements in the agriculture.
"We are interested in your achievements in the sphere of agriculture, I mean the technologies you use," he said. The Ukrainian premier also said that Ukraine is eager to exchange experience in the medicine sphere with Israel.
As reported, an agreement between Ukraine and Israel on the cancellation of visas for short-term trips for citizens came into effect on Feb. 9, 2011.
According to the agreement, citizens of Ukraine and Israel who have valid civil or service passports may enter territory of the other state, travel through it or stay on its territory without getting visas for 90 days, if they make only one trip within a period of 180 days.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Israel signed an intergovernmental agreement abolishing visas for citizens with civil passports or service passports of Ukraine and Israel in July 2010.
Ukraine is the second former Soviet republic after Russia to cancel its visa regime with Israel.
