Russia mulling e-visas for Indian tourists

Russia is considering the launch of e-visas for Indian tourists and direct flights between Mumbai and Moscow as part of its aggressive measures to woo Indian travellers to the country, famous for its rich cultural heritage, ornate cathedrals and subtropical beaches.

“We are planning to start offering e-visas to the Indian tourists to ease travel norms for those visiting our country,” Valery Korvokin, Head of International Department of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, said on Tuesday, which was observed as the World Tourism Day.

“We are pursuing the e-visa issue with our foreign ministry. We expect a positive development on this important matter in the next few months,” Korvokin said.

Of the 18 million outbound Indian tourists, nearly 30,000 visit Russia annually. “We are working on increasing the visibility of Russia in Indian media and TV. We are also working with our University officials to formulate Indian tourist friendly measures,” Korvokin said.

Also in the offing are direct flights from Mumbai to Moscow and St Petersburg. “A decision on this issue is also expected soon,” he said.

The Agency is also planning a certification/recognition course for Indian tour operators, specialising in Russian tours, he said.