Russia Eyes Visa-Free Group Travel For Indian Tourists

Indian tourists may soon enjoy the convenience of visa-free travel to Russia, but with a key stipulation — the new rule would apply exclusively to those traveling in groups. The Moscow City Tourism Committee is currently negotiating with the Indian government to implement a ‘group-free visa regime,’ allowing specified numbers of Indian travelers to visit Russia without the need for visas, as long as they are traveling together.
Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, confirmed the talks with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, highlighting the need to determine the group size required for this exemption. “For a group of tourists to travel to Russia visa-free, the specific number must be specified in the visit document. For example, in the Chinese protocol, groups need to consist of 10-20 people,” Kozlov shared with reporters.
India has become a significant market for Russian tourism, ranking second only to China. Kozlov emphasized this point, stating, “India is a priority market for us. For us among the far abroad countries, China ranks at the number one position, followed by India.” The substantial spending power of Indian tourists, averaging around USD 2,000 per person per trip, makes them particularly attractive to Moscow’s tourism efforts.
The burgeoning relationship between Moscow and Indian tourists is reflected in recent statistics. From January to September of 2024, Moscow received 19.7 million tourists, among which were 61,000 from India. The city projects ambitious targets for the future, aiming to welcome 6 million international tourists annually by 2030, with significant visitor numbers expected from India, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Asia-Pacific region.
Kozlov stated, “We’ve been improving tourism infrastructure, actively promoting Moscow in key markets like India, and introducing e-visa regimes,” which are all part of Moscow’s strategies to attract international visitors. The city has made substantial investments to upgrade its tourism infrastructure, enhancing accessibility and creating more visitor-friendly environments.
Another promising avenue for attracting Indian tourists is film tourism. The Moscow City Tourism Committee is engaging with Indian film production houses to bring Bollywood productions to the city. Kozlov envisions showcasing Moscow through Indian cinema, highlighting how this could stimulate interest and travel among Indian audiences. “We want to attract Indian visitors to Moscow through cinema,” he remarked.
The proposed group-free visa travel initiative is expected to simplify the travel process for Indian tourists, reducing bureaucratic hurdles. If the plan is finalized, it will complement the existing favorable conditions for Indian passport holders, who can already travel to 62 countries without needing visas.
This potential change is part of Russia’s broader strategy to boost tourism from diverse markets, especially from India. Tourism officials are optimistic about the impact on cultural exchanges and economic ties between the two countries.
Overall, the establishment of this visa-free initiative could be transformative for both Indian tourists and the Russian tourism industry. With continued discussions and potential agreements on group sizes, the future of travel between India and Russia appears promising, paving the way for stronger relationships and shared cultural experiences.
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