The symbolic ribbon opening the traditional Travel Trade Fairs was cut by eight personalities - top representatives of the state administration, self-government and religious institutions. In their speeches, they in particular talked about the topic of the 1150th anniversary of the Christian mission of Cyril and Methodius.

The introductory speech was given by the Mayor of the city of Brno,  Roman Onderka, who welcomed the participants on behalf of the host city. "REGIONTOUR is always a holiday at the Brno exhibition grounds. It is the first trade fair of the year and a demonstration of what the individual regions, cities and municipalities can offer, and not only to tourists from the Czech Republic, but also from Europe and the entire world," Onderka said and reminded that Brno is here not only as the host, but also as an exhibitor, and this year there are interesting novelties, such as extended tours of the Brno underground or the reconstructed Špilberk Castle, on Brno’s tourist menu.

The participants of the trade fairs were greeted by the Minister of Regional Development, Kamil Jankovský, who informed them about the upcoming legislative changes in the area of tourism. Slovakia, traditionally with the highest foreign participation, was represented in the opening ceremony by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic, František Palko. He welcomed the opportunity to present the tourist offer in a country whose inhabitants are Slovakia’s most numerous visitors, and expressed the hope that the number would grow further and Slovakia will become a year-round destination for the Czechs. In his performance, the managing director of the CzechTourism agency, Rostislav Vondruška, wished all participants that this year's GO and REGIONTOUR would be the presage of a successful year despite the prognoses which talk about the stagnation in the inbound tourism. "I think that the activity at the trade fair does not match the prognostications, which is good," said Vondruška and invited the participants to the stand of the CzechTourism agency, where the new visual style of the presentation of the Czech foreign and domestic tourism  is being displayed.

The leitmotif of the opening ceremony was the key topic of the domestic tourism in 2013 - the celebrations of the 1150^th anniversary of the arrival of Cyril and Methodius. As the Governor of the South Moravian region, Michal Hašek, reminded, this event of crucial importance for the whole of Central Europe also inspired four Moravian regions, which pulled together again and published a guidebook of the spiritual legacy. The Archbishop of Prague Dominik Duka stressed the link between tourism and pilgrimage trails, as well as religious monuments. "On this occasion I would like to thank the self-government - of both the regions and the municipalities - for the understanding, which has been shown during the 23 years of freedom in the reconstruction of the dominant features of our villages, towns and cities," said Cardinal Duka. Since the mission of Cyril and Methodius took place at the time of an undivided Church, it is also the symbol of the understanding between the Western and the Eastern Christianity. Therefore, the representative of the Orthodox Church, Christopher, Archbishop of Prague and the Metropolitan of Czech lands and Slovakia, who highlighted the spiritual dimension of travelling as a pilgrimage for friendship between people, was present at the opening ceremony of the trade fairs.

The final word belonged to the managing director of the company Trade Fairs Brno Jiří Kuliš, who wished everyone present a successful trade fair. The ribbon-cutting ceremony of the 23^rd trade fair GO and 22^nd trade fair REGIONTOUR was also watched by members of the Czech Parliament, senators, members of the diplomatic corps, the governors of Czech regions, members of foreign delegations from Slovakia, Croatia and France and other important guests.