At the opening ceremony. Photo provided by the participants of the event
On April 11, the grand opening of the Expedition and Tourism Center of the Russian Geographical Society in Brazil took place in a historic mansion in the city of Salvador. The first center of the RGS was created at the Aleixo Belov Foundation. It will become an important element in strengthening Russian-Brazilian relations, popularizing the geographical, historical, and cultural heritage of Russia as well as promoting the tourism opportunities of our country.
The project to create RGS centers focused on expedition and tourism was initiated in 2024. Promising international locations and geographical societies of the world have come to the fore, interested in promoting tourism and expedition activities, including partnerships in creating cross-border and international tourist routes and rethinking the positive experience of cross-country complex expeditions.
The opening ceremony of the Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS. Photo provided by the organizers of the event
«The opening of the first Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS is a continuation of the development of projects and meanings of the Society outside of Russia,» said Artyom Manukyan, Vice-President of the RGS. «The permanent center provides a qualitatively new level of long-term cooperation, which allows organizing joint expeditions and developing tourist routes, primarily with a scientific component. The center’s format ensures the launch of international expedition and tourism initiatives. An example of such a partnership was the organization of an international sailing expedition around the world, which starts on the first day of the center’s operation and will take place along the Northern Sea Route. The most important impetus for such projects was the establishment of BRICS Geographer’s Day, initiated by the President of Russia, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RGS Vladimir Putin in 2024.»
Inside the Expedition and Tourism Center there is a reception room decorated with the works of the finalists of the RGS photo contest «The Most Beautiful Country». Thematic meetings, interesting lectures, film screenings will be held here, and copies of maps from the Scientific Archive of the RGS will soon be available.
«The opening of the Center by the efforts of the RGS and all enthusiasts is not only a new step in the development and further strengthening of bilateral relations between Russia and Brazil, but also another brick in the architecture of BRICS,» said Andrey Petrov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Rio de Janeiro. «First, cooperation with one BRICS country (Brazil) is established in this area, then other similar structures (India) join it — this is how intra-BRICS cooperation develops. Further, centers in countries outside the association (Chile, Peru) join the process. The result is an international network operating on the principles of unification.»
The Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS in Brazil. Video: Aleixo Belov Foundation
The tasks of the Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS in Brazil will include organizing the participation of foreign citizens and compatriots in scientific, expedition, and tourism projects of the RGS. In addition, the center plans to hold joint events with scientific and educational institutions in Brazil. Visitors will be able to get acquainted with unique exhibits, including the works of the finalists of the photo contest «The Most Beautiful Country» and rare maps from the Scientific Archive of the RGS in St. Petersburg.
«I am a long-time friend of Russia and I am actively developing joint projects and expeditions. There are two iconic places here in Salvador: the Maritime Museum and the Aleixo Belov Foundation in the city center. And now it is a great honor for me to open the first foreign Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS here, which will begin work with a trip around the world,» said Aleixo Belov, creator of the foundation, traveler, engineer, writer. «I have made such voyages alone more than once, but now I am going as part of a team with Russian researchers — this is a special experience. And I am glad to share it with my friend, Sergei Shcherbakov, an experienced yachtsman and world traveler, a representative of the Omsk Branch of the RGS.»
Special attention in the opening program was paid to the launch of the large-scale international sailing expedition «Brotherhood 2025–2026». This project is timed to coincide with several important dates: the 180th anniversary of the Russian Geographical Society, the 200th anniversary of Russian-Brazilian diplomatic relations, the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II, and the 20th anniversary of the strategic partnership between our countries. A joint Russian-Brazilian crew is setting off together with the founder of the Aleixo Belov Foundation.
The expedition route will take place along the Northern Sea Route, calling at key points along the route: Murmansk, Dikson, Tiksi, Bennett Island, Pevek, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It will also include the extreme geographical points of the continents: Cape Chelyuskin in the north, Cape Horn in the south, and Cape Dezhnev in the east. According to the plan, the expedition will set off on April 12, 2025, from the sailing port of Salvador and will end in 10 months. This ambitious project will become a symbol of friendship and cooperation between Russia and Brazil, opening up new prospects for joint research and cultural exchange.
The opening of the center and the start of the expedition mark a new stage in the development of international cooperation, emphasizing the importance of cultural dialogue and joint exploration of the unique natural sites of our planet.