Russia Proposes Visa-Free Travel for Indian Tourist Groups
Russia has proposed a visa-free travel arrangement with India for organized tourist groups. The proposal was made by Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov on Thursday.
Reshetnikov said that Russia had already implemented a similar visa-free program with China and was now looking to do the same with India. He said that diplomatic discussions were underway and that the government was working to expedite the process.
The proposal comes as Russia seeks to boost tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. The tourism sector has been hit hard by the pandemic and the conflict, with visitor numbers down significantly.
The visa-free travel arrangement would allow Indian tourists to visit Russia without a visa as long as they are part of an organized group. The group would need to have a minimum of five people and would need to travel under a single itinerary and program.
Russia has also introduced a program that allows citizens from 55 countries to acquire an electronic visa for around $52. This visa is valid for 60 days and allows a stay of up to 16 days in the country.
The visa-free travel arrangement with India would be a significant boost for both countries’ tourism industries. It would make it easier and more affordable for Indian tourists to visit Russia, and it would also attract more Russian tourists to India.
The proposal is still under consideration, but it has the potential to be a win-win for both countries.