Russia might soon be added to the list of countries offering visa-free entry to Indian tourists. The Moscow City Tourism Committee is in discussions with the Indian government to establish a “group visa-free system.” Under this arrangement, groups of tourists traveling to Russia in a specified number will be allowed entry without a visa.
The Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, Evgeny Kozlov, stated in an event on Wednesday, January 30, 2025, that for a group to travel visa-free, a specific number must be mentioned in the official documents. For instance, in China, a group must consist of 10–20 people. He further mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to finalize the required group size for this facility.
61,000 Indians Visited Moscow in Nine Months
Kozlov emphasized that India is a key market for Moscow, ranking second among distant-source countries after China. He stated that Indian tourists spend significantly when they travel, with an average expenditure of around $2,000 per person per trip.
Between January and September 2024, Moscow welcomed approximately 61,000 Indian tourists out of a total of 19.7 million visitors. Kozlov also highlighted that over the past two years, Moscow has prioritized improving its tourism image, focusing on three main aspects: enhancing tourism infrastructure, promoting Moscow in countries like India, and working on implementing an e-visa system.
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Moscow City Open for Film Shoots
Moscow City is actively working to promote tourism in business, weddings, family vacations, and the film industry. Kozlov revealed that a delegation from the Moscow City Tourism Committee is in talks with production houses to invite them for film shoots in the Russian capital.
He further added that the committee aims to attract Indian audiences through cinema. Representatives are engaging with film production houses and directors to encourage them to feature Moscow City in their films. Incentives are being planned to support film productions in the city, with discussions still ongoing.