Russia May Allow Visa-Free Entry For Indian Tourists

According to Alina Arutyunova, deputy chairman of the Moscow metropolis tourism committee, who was in Mumbai on Tuesday, Russia may introduce visa-free entry for Indian tourist groups.

However, according to The Times of India, Russia is about to quickly implement e-visas for Indian tourists.

“The President of the Russian Federation has supported an initiative to introduce a visa-free regime for group tourists. Such an order has already been received for Iran on Tuesday. It’s possible that the same assignment will soon be for India,” she said.

According to Arutyunova, Turkey, Germany, and India are the top three non-CIS countries that send the most visitors to Moscow.

Despite the ongoing conflict, over 13,000 Indians visited Moscow in the first half of 2022, and foot traffic is expected to return to pre-Covid levels by the end of 2023, according to data shared by the Moscow City Tourism Committee.

When the borders reopened after the pandemic in 2021, it was discovered that 48 per cent of Indian tourists visited Moscow. According to the Federal Agency for Tourism, footfall from India to Moscow in 2021 has increased by 40% compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

The Russian visa policy has been identified as the primary cause of the increase in Indian visitors to Moscow.

Arutyunova further stated that;

“In 2020, a resolution was passed on the introduction of electronic visas for 52 countries, including India. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the resolution has not yet entered into force, but we very much expect that the project will be launched soon, and e-visa will simplify the process of arrival of foreign tourists.”

e-Visa For 52 Countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin backed a proposal to institute a visa-free system for groups of international tourists. In addition, a streamlined online application process for e-visas would be made available to 52 countries, including India.

It is worth noting that in July 2022, Russia lifted the ban on issuing e-visas to travellers from 52 countries including India.

The ban on issuing e-Visas was imposed in March 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, the Russian administration stated that this was an exceptional and temporary action.

Arutyunova commented on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying, “Even in times of global uncertainty, tourism serves as a bridge between peoples and cultures.” During the first six months of this year, Moscow hosted 13,300 Indians. The pre-pandemic levels are expected to be reached by the end of 2023.”