On April, 21st, 2010 navigation of passenger vessels in The Greater Port Saint-Petersburg was opened. Cargo and passenger ferry “Princess Maria” became the first vessel arrived to the port.

It is expected that according to the schedule 410 passenger vessels, mostly passenger ferries from the Baltic region will arrive to Saint-Petersburg from April till October, 2010.

In 2010 the increase of a tourist traffic to Saint-Petersburg is expected. The basic reason of it is the implementation of visa-free regime for foreign tourists arriving to Saint-Petersburg by ferries. According to changes in legislative acts of the Russian Federation passengers of ferries, tourists from all countries of the world, arriving to certain seaports of Russia, have the right to stay in the territory of the Russian Federation without visas for the period of 72 hours.