India's Role In Moscow's Tourism GDP Growth Plan

Moscow's tourism economy currently contributes 5 per cent to the city's GDP, but Mayor Sergey Sabyanin has set an ambitious target of 8 per cent. "To achieve this, we are doubling down on high-value markets like India," Kozlov said. The city is particularly keen on tapping into India's burgeoning MICE and wedding tourism sectors.

As global tourism rebounds quickly in the last couple of years, Moscow is making a concerted effort to position itself as a premier destination for Indian travellers. With a 40 per cent year-on-year surge in Indian visitors, totalling over 61,000 in just the last nine months, Russia's capital city is rolling out the red carpet with tailored experiences, improved infrastructure and strategic partnerships. During an interaction, Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and Moscow City Tourism Committee Chairman, revealed ambitious plans to capitalise on this growing market.

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2024, 85,800 tourists from India visited Moscow, 1.4 times more than the previous figure in 2023. During the pre-pandemic era in 2019, this number was 10900. Regarding the number of guests who visited Moscow in 2024, India ranks 2nd among non-CIS countries. Kozlov attributes this spike to Russia's e-visa system, introduced in August 2023, calling it a game changer for accessibility. While cultural and leisure tourism dominates, we see tremendous business travel potential. About 30 per cent of Indian arrivals are for work, and 40 per cent return for vacations," Kozlov noted. Business tourists, he added, spend 1.5 to 2 times more than leisure travellers, making them a priority segment. Moscow's tourism economy currently contributes 5 per cent to the city's GDP, but Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has set an ambitious target of 8 per cent. "To achieve this, we are doubling down on high-value markets like India," Kozlov said. The city is particularly keen on tapping into India's burgeoning MICE and wedding tourism sectors. "We have hosted several large Indian weddings recently and have identified over 30 heritage venus perfect for such events," he revealed, mentioning palace-like estates in Moscow's countryside that rival European castles.

While the e-visa has helped, Kozlov acknowledged that a visa-free regime for groups already available to Chinese and Iranian tourists would be a quantum leap for the Indian market. "Federal discussions are ongoing," he said, though he couldn't provide a timeline. More pressing is the payment hurdle. With international cards like Visa/Mastercard non-functional, Kozlov admitted it is a critical bottleneck. Temporary solutions are emerging: "Several five-star hotels now offer local cards where guests deposit cash upfront," he explained. A federal "Tourist Card" and BRICS Pay platform are in development, but Kozlov urged patience: "The solution will likely combine QR codes and digital wallets".

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