Moscow welcomed 40,800 tourists from India during the first half of 2025, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year. India has become the second-largest country among non-CIS countries by tourist arrivals. Overall, more than half a million travelers from outside CIS countries visited Moscow between January and June 2025—a 10% increase compared to last year. The Moscow City Tourism Committee highlighted that this increase reflects the rising interest from Asian markets and Moscow’s expanding allure as a global destination.
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The favorable trend also manifests in hotel statistics. Rosstat reported that the number of foreign guests in Moscow hotels rose by 14% during the first seven months of 2025 compared to 2024. Additionally, 94% of summer bookings for 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels were made by travelers from non-CIS countries, up from 85% last year. Indian tourists were notably active in Moscow’s premium accommodation sector.
Visa accessibility is a crucial factor for Indian visitors, with e-visas allowing travelers to obtain their visa online in just four days without needing invitations or hotel confirmations. A diverse events calendar, featuring major festivals to business conferences, also plays a significant role in attracting Indian tourists.
For example, during the “Summer in Moscow” urban project, the city hosted two major events celebrating Indian culture: the International Day of Yoga and Bharat Utsav (The Festival of India in Moscow). Such events demonstrate Moscow’s welcoming culture and robust cultural ties with India.
“Initiatives like ‘Summer in Moscow’ enrich the city’s cultural life and showcase the hospitality of Moscow. These events afford tourists and foreign delegations the opportunity to discover the city not just through its landmarks but also through its communities, public spaces, and cultural diversity,” commented Vinay Kumar, Ambassador of India to Russia.
Moscow has also initiated several India-focused projects, such as the Indian Vibes in Moscow guide, which provides information on hotels, gastronomy, and India-related landmarks.
The Moscow City Tourism Committee actively participates in Indian travel exhibitions, hosts targeted business missions, and organizes familiarization trips for tourism professionals, significantly enhancing the city’s visibility within the tourism industry. A key milestone was the OTOAI Convention 2025, the first ever held in Russia, which gathered over 250 Indian tour operators, media representatives, and travel professionals for an introduction to Moscow’s tourism infrastructure, hospitality, and culture. The city aims to continue its presence in the Indian market with events like the upcoming Meet Global MICE Congress 2025.
In 2024, Moscow attracted 26 million visitors, generating significant budget revenue and aiming to host up to six million international visitors annually by 2030, particularly from India, China, and the Asia-Pacific region.
