The Moscow City Tourism Committee is intensifying its efforts to strengthen ties with India’s outbound tourism, with a particular focus on the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. The city destination wants to continue solidify its position as a premier destination for both leisure and business tourism, and India has emerged as a strategic partner in this growth.

Since 2020, India has been among the leading non-CIS countries sending tourists to Moscow, with this trend continuing into 2024. The first half of 2024 saw a 1.5-fold increase in Indian travellers to Moscow compared to the same period in 2023, totalling 28,500 visitors. This surge is attributed largely to the introduction of the e-visa system in August 2023, which significantly eased travel for Indian passport holders and contributed to the rise in MICE traffic to Russia.

Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, and Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, commented, “While most tourists visit Moscow for cultural, educational, and entertainment purposes, the city has also been focusing on expanding business tourism, which is now a significant contributor to the local economy. By 2030, the number of foreign tourists is expected to reach 6 million, mainly from CIS countries, the Asia-Pacific region, India, the Middle East, and other parts of the world.”

To further enhance its presence, Moscow will participate in the OTM International Tourism Exhibition in Mumbai from January 30 to February 1, 2025, where it will showcase its offerings in cultural, leisure, and business tourism. Ahead of the exhibition, a Moscow Business Mission on January 28 will bring together key Moscow tourism representatives and about 80 Indian tour operators and industry stakeholders. A reception hosted by the Moscow City Tourism Committee on January 29 will also feature high-ranking officials, including Ivan Fetisov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, and Victor Gorelykh, Director of the Russian House in Mumbai.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee considers India as a priority market and regularly holds events and implements projects aimed at attracting tourists from the region: both leisure and MICE.