Russia and India are set to strengthen their tourism ties as they gear up for the launch of visa-free group tourist exchanges. The first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June, with an aim to finalize a bilateral agreement by the end of the year.

Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s department of multilateral economic cooperation and special projects, provided insights into the upcoming discussions.

“The process with group visa-free trips has moved a little. The Indian side returned with the answer that they are at the final stage of internal state coordination and asked us again for the latest draft of the document and promised to return in the very near future. I think we will hold the first consultations with them in June to discuss a draft agreement,” Kondratyev stated during the sidelines of the International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2024” in Kazan.

The plan is to replicate the success of visa-free tourist exchanges already established with China and Iran. Russia and China initiated their visa-free group tourist exchange from August 1, 2023, following an intergovernmental agreement. Similarly, a visa-free group tourist exchange between Russia and Iran commenced on the same date, ushering in a new era of tourism cooperation.

With the groundwork laid through these agreements, Russia is now turning its attention to India, a strategic partner with immense tourism potential. In early February, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development expressed its anticipation to kickstart visa-free tourist exchanges with India in 2024. The upcoming consultations mark a significant step towards realizing this goal.

The ongoing International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum” serves as a platform for fostering economic and cultural ties between Russia and member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Against this backdrop, the discussions on visa-free tourist exchanges highlight the commitment of Russia and India to deepen their bilateral relations in the tourism sector.

As the world gradually emerges from the shadow of the pandemic, initiatives such as visa-free tourist exchanges offer a ray of hope for the tourism industry, promoting cross-cultural understanding and economic growth. With the prospect of seamless travel between Russia and India on the horizon, both nations stand to benefit from enhanced people-to-people exchanges and greater tourism flows.