Russia is in advanced talks with India to establish a ‘group-free visa regime,’ which would allow a specified number of tourists traveling together to enter the country without needing a visa. According to Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, the system would require the number of tourists in a group to be specified in travel documents. For example, under the Chinese model, the group must consist of 10-20 people. Discussions are currently underway between Russia and India’s Ministry of External Affairs to finalize the group size for Indian tourists to benefit from this arrangement.

Kozlov further emphasized that India is a crucial market for Moscow’s tourism industry, ranking second only to China among distant countries. “India is a priority market for us. China is in the number one position, followed by India. Indian tourists tend to spend well, with an average of USD 2,000 per person per trip,” he said during an event on Wednesday.

Moscow experienced a significant influx of tourists in the first nine months of 2024, with 19.7 million visitors, including 61,000 from India. The city is expecting the number of foreign tourists to grow to 6 million by 2030, largely due to travelers from the CIS countries, Asia-Pacific region, India, the Middle East, and other parts of the world.

Kozlov attributed the surge in international tourism to three main factors: the enhancement of tourism infrastructure in Moscow, the active promotion of the city in key markets like India, and the introduction of the e-visa system, which has made travel more accessible.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is particularly focused on promoting business, wedding, family, and film tourism. Kozlov revealed that the committee is actively engaging with film production houses, particularly in India, to encourage them to shoot films in Moscow. “We aim to attract Indian tourists through cinema. Our delegates are meeting with production companies and filmmakers to showcase Moscow City in their films. We are planning to offer incentives, which are still being discussed,” he added.

This initiative is part of Moscow’s broader strategy to expand its tourism offerings and strengthen its appeal as a global destination for both leisure and business travelers.