Russia plans to double the tourism sector’s GDP contribution from 3.8% to 10% by 2030 through increased investments and the launch of a national project focused on tourism and hospitality set for 2025.

Evgeny Kozlov, the chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, emphasized the importance of attracting visitors from India and China, particularly in the MICE segment (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).

Kozlov noted recent efforts to streamline travel for Indian tourists, including the introduction of e-visas starting August 1, 2023. He shared:

“Indian passport holders can now apply for e-visas online, which are issued within four days and require no invitations or confirmations.”
(Holders of Indian passports can now apply for e-visas online, which are processed in four days with no requirements for invitations or confirmations.)

This liberalization has resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in Indian tourist arrivals during the first half of 2024, reaching 28,500 visitors compared to the previous year.

According to Gajesh Giridhar, founder of NIMA, destinations like Baku and Thailand remain popular among Indian travelers due to better flight connectivity. Both Kozlov and Giridhar have urged Indian airlines to initiate direct flights to Moscow to cater to the growing demand.

In 2024, Moscow’s tourism industry revenue hit an impressive 1.3 trillion rubles (approximately USD 12.35 billion), surpassing pre-pandemic records. The forecast suggests that by 2030, this revenue will increase by 2.7 times, totaling 3.6 trillion rubles (or USD 34.2 billion), highlighting the sector’s potential and the necessity for improved transport links between India and Russia.