Russia : Moscow’s Capital’s Bid to Attract Indian Travelers

The Moscow Resilience Shines Through: A City's Invitation

Russia : Amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Moscow, the vibrant capital of Russia, is making a determined bid to attract international tourists, with a special focus on travellers from India. This endeavour comes at a time when India remains one of the few countries that have abstained from imposing Western sanctions on Russia, maintaining a long-standing bilateral relationship that spans decades.

Moscow & Tourism Committee

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to woo tourists from around the world. To address potential payment-related issues that arose after the departure of MasterCard and Visa from the Russian market, the Russian government is in the process of introducing a revolutionary solution – the virtual ‘Foreign Tourist Card.’ This card is set to enable seamless cashless payments for various services, ensuring a hassle-free experience for international visitors.

Bulat Nurmukhanov, the Head of the International Co-operation Division of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, expressed optimism about the gradual recovery of Indian tourist arrivals in Moscow. “We are still on our way to restoring the flow of Indian tourists in Moscow like it used to be before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, there was very steady growth, like 12-15 per cent on a year-on-year basis,” he stated.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted tourism in Moscow, leading to a significant drop in tourist numbers. However, with the introduction of tourist-friendly measures such as the e-visa, the city is witnessing a gradual resurgence in Indian tourists, and this trend is expected to gain momentum in the coming months.

Starting from August 1, 2023, travelling to Moscow has become more accessible for tourists from India and 54 other countries, as they can now apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia.

Nurmukhanov further elaborated on the ‘Foreign Tourist Card’ initiative, saying, “The idea behind this card is that a person back home in India can remotely apply for this virtual card and then transfer money from their personal bank account to this bank account.”

To offer more travel options to tourists, the Russian flagship carrier Aeroflot has increased the frequency of its Delhi-Moscow flights to seven times a week, up from four weekly services. Additionally, India and Russia have recently agreed, in principle, to revise their bilateral air services agreement, allowing Russian carriers to operate up to 64 flights per week from the previous 52, serving six Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Amritsar, and Ahmedabad.

“We are really looking forward to Indian Airlines restoring their flight connections to Moscow. Right now, only Aeroflot is operating flights between Delhi and Goa, but there are some other options available from Dubai to Moscow,” added Nurmukhanov.

In a bid to address the language barrier and make arriving in and navigating Moscow less intimidating, the city has established seven tourist centres. Additionally, there is a dedicated call centre for foreign tourists to seek assistance. “We are working on translating the city’s navigation into English. Our businesses are proactive and responsive to market requirements,” Nurmukhanov assured.

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