(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JULY 3 - A new maritime connection has been inaugurated between the province of Izmir, on the Aegean coast of Turkey, and the Greek island of Lesvos. The ferry connection is aimed at increasing the number of tourists visiting the two locations, making it easier for them to make the short crossing in the Aegean Sea that separates the two countries.

The connection for the time being has been scheduled once a week on Tuesday. It will soon be extended to Saturdays. The first group of 400 visitors travelled from Greece to the Turkish port of Dikili where they were welcomed by Mayor Adil Kirgoz who stressed the importance of tourism ''to strengthen'' the local economy. That part of the sea over the last few years has also been at the center of significant illegal migrant flows.

Despite periodic tension on contested areas in the Aegean Sea and Cyprus, relations between Turkey and Greece have significantly improved with reciprocal visits by leaders Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Alexis Tsipras.(ANSAmed).