To attract tourists to India, the Moscow City Tourism Committee has brought one of the flagship folk dance ensembles, 'Gzhel', to India for the ongoing SATTE 2024.
In addition, the Moscow City Tourism Committee has unveiled an exclusive plan to attract Indian tourists, with the aim of becoming a top destination for travellers from India.
Highlighting the city's rich history, stunning architecture and vibrant nightlife, the plan aims to position Moscow as a must-visit destination for Indian travellers.
"India is one of our top priority markets and is strategically important. Last year we received over 60,000 guests from India, which is a pretty good trend, because if you compare it from year to year, the growth is 25%," Bulat Nurmukhanov, head of the international cooperation department at the Moscow City Tourism Committee, told Sputnik India.
According to official figures, more than 24.5 million tourists visited Moscow, including 2.3 million from overseas, and these figures are expected to rise.
Reason for Rise in Tourism
The Russian government has taken steps to make travelling to the country easier, such as introducing e-visas for 50 countries, including India, and language-friendly facilities.
"The electronic visa to Russia takes no more than five days. So if you sit at home on your laptop and spend no more than $50, you get your visa. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 98% of applicants get their visas approved. Some are rejected because of technical problems or lack of proper photos and documents," says Nurmukhanov.
Discussions are underway to introduce tourist cards for cashless payments to eliminate the hassle of carrying physical currency and streamline transactions for visitors.
"With the support of the federal government, we may soon get an international credit card that will allow tourists to make payments online. Until then, tourists must bring cash with them, and there are plenty of bureaux de change and banks around the city where they can change money safely," Nurmukhanov added.
Initiatives taken to promote tourism in India
Moscow has launched numerous initiatives to promote tourism and business cooperation with India, covering B2B, B2C and cultural exchanges and partnerships.
"We are working with local companies and bridging various partnerships and linkages, be it with hotels, transport companies or travel and tour operators. We actively participate in the marketing and facilitation of business enterprises," adds Nurmukhanov.