St. Petersburg, Russia
Russia aims to double tourism’s contribution to its GDP from 3.8% to 10% by 2030 through increased investment in the sector and the launch of its national project “Tourism and Hospitality” in 2025. Evgeny Kozlov, chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, emphasised the focus on attracting tourists and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) visitors from India and China to boost arrivals and economic impact.
Kozlov highlighted Russia’s efforts to ease travel for Indian tourists, including the introduction of e-visas from August 1, 2023. “Indian passport holders can now apply for e-visas online, which are issued within four days and require no invitations or confirmations,” he said. This liberalised visa policy contributed to a 1.5-fold rise in Indian tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024, reaching 28,500 compared to the same period in 2023.
Gajesh Giridhar, founder of the Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), pointed out that destinations like Baku and Thailand are more popular among Indian travelers due to better flight options. Both Kozlov and Giridhar urged Indian airlines to introduce direct flights to Moscow to tap into the increasing travel demand.
Moscow’s tourism industry revenue has already exceeded 1.3 trillion rubles (USD 12.35 billion) in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic records. By 2030, tourism revenue is forecast to grow 2.7 times to 3.6 trillion rubles (USD 34.2 billion), further increasing its economic impact on Moscow. Kozlov expressed optimism about the sector’s potential but noted the need for enhanced transport links between India and Russia to meet growing demand.
