India to become second largest source of tourists to Moscow in 2025, ETTravelWorld

India has become the second largest source market for tourist arrivals to Moscow among non-CIS countries in the first half of 2025. The Russian capital received 40.8 lakh tourists from India between January and June, which represents a 40% increase compared to the same period last year. According to the Moscow City Tourism Committee, this growth highlights growing interest from Asian markets and Moscow’s strengthened position as a global destination.

The upward trend extends to the hospitality sector. Data from Rosstat shows a 14% rise in foreign guests staying at Moscow hotels during the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Online travel platform Ostrovok reported that 94% of all summer bookings for 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels were made by travelers from countries outside the CIS – up from 85% the previous year – and Indian tourists were among the most active in the premium accommodation segment in City.

Travel from India to Moscow has been encouraged by simplified entry through Russia’s e-visa programme, which allows travelers to apply online within four days without the need for invitations or hotel confirmations. The vibrant events calendar has also played a major role in attracting Indian visitors, featuring major festivals, conferences and cultural initiatives.

During the “Summer in Moscow” urban project, the city hosted several large-scale Indian cultural events, including International Yoga Day and Bharat Utsav (Moscow India Festival). These initiatives celebrated the growing cultural ties between the two countries.

India’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, His Excellency Vinay Kumar, commented, “Initiatives like ‘Summer in Moscow’ enrich the cultural life of the city and help showcase how welcoming Moscow is. These events give tourists and foreign delegations an opportunity to discover the city not only through its attractions but also through its people, public spaces and cultural diversity. This format is particularly attractive because the celebrations unfold right in the streets and parks – the places where people gather in summer.”

To further support this growth, the Moscow City Tourism Committee has introduced India-focused initiatives such as the Indian Vibes in Moscow guide, which includes recommendations on hotels, gastronomy and attractions associated with India. The committee also participates in major Indian trade fairs including OTM, SATTE, BLTM and MILT Congress, while hosting business missions and familiarization trips to Moscow for Indian tourism professionals.

A major milestone in strengthening ties was the OTOAI 2025 conference – the first ever of its kind in Russia – which brought together over 250 leading Indian tour operators, media and travel professionals to provide an immersive introduction to Moscow’s tourism infrastructure, hospitality and cultural scene. Looking ahead, Moscow will expand its presence in the Indian market through upcoming events such as Meet Global MICE 2025 and other targeted partnerships aimed at enhancing accessibility and visibility among Indian travellers.

With this momentum, Moscow expects continued growth in international arrivals. In 2024, the city recorded 26 million visitors, generating 235 billion rubles (about 2.65 billion US dollars) in budget revenue. By 2030, Moscow aims to host up to six million international tourists annually, driven by markets such as India, China, the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.

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