BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The 2012 Sino-Russia Tourism Year has so far listed 121 activities planned by China and 104 others organized by Russia, which are likely to significantly boost tourism between the two countries, China's tourism authority said Thursday.

China and Russia exchanged more than 3.3 million tourists in 2011, serving as important sources of tourists to each other, according to China's National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Nearly 2.54 million Russians traveled to China, marking year-on-year growth of 7 percent in 2011, a year which also saw a breakthrough in over 800,000 Chinese touring Russia, up 13.88 percent year-on-year, CNTA said.

Liu Guchang, former Chinese ambassador to Russia, said the tourism year will further advance the Sino-Russia strategic partnership by enhancing the foundation of cultural and social exchanges through tourism.

"The tourism year will vastly stimulate mutual interests," Liu said. "Direct and subsequent positive effects, like a surging number of tourists, will last impressively."

The 2012 Sino-Russia Tourism Year aims to promote happy and healthy tourism to meet ever-increasing public demand, according to the CNTA.