Russian newspaper The News Agency reported on August 27 that Russia and India are discussing the implementation of group visa-free travel. After the negotiations, both sides will determine the next steps to take.
Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told the News Agency that Russia could become India's first country with which visa-free travel is implemented. No final decision has been made, and there is no specific date. India has not implemented a visa-free system with any other country, which is also one of the factors affecting this decision.
According to reports, the bilateral tourism flow between the two countries increased by 8% in the first half of the year. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Muntrov said that about 50,000 Russian citizens visited India, and more than 25,000 Indian citizens visited Russia. And this was achieved even while the West is trying to portray Russia in a negative light.
Despite external pressure from the West, both parties have managed to expand their cooperation. Trade volumes are increasing: they have grown by 8% over the past six months. Additionally, Russian leaders have promised to increase the supply of fertilizers. According to analysis firms, India’s procurement of oil from Russia has reached a record high.
Alutur Murajian, the vice chairman of the Russian Travel Agency Association who is in charge of the international tourism sector, believes that Russia is not very popular among Indian tourists at present, due to the influence of some local media on British public opinion. On July 3, a document was released on the British government website, listing reasons against traveling to Russia.
Murajian said that so far, canceling visas is more beneficial for Indian tourists. In terms of Russians being able to enter India freely, since the free e-visa has been in effect, there should be no expectation of a significant increase in tourist traffic due to the cancellation of documentation requirements. Moreover, Russian citizens already consider India as a destination that requires no additional effort.
Russian Tourism Industry Federation Vice Chairman Dmitry Goryun is convinced that implementing visa-free group tours will help to expand tourism relations between Russia and India. He stated that Russian companies have repeatedly proposed to regulatory authorities to implement visa-free group tours in stages, with the visa system being completely abolished under a reciprocal agreement between the two sides. This solution has great potential for simplifying travel to Russia. After all, Russia is still far from being a major destination for Indians. So far, countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia remain their favorites.
