Tag Archives: Moscow

Moscow continues to reinforce its status as a premier travel destination, experiencing a substantial rise in international tourist arrivals. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, the Russian capital welcomed 19.7 million visitors, including 1.9 million foreign tourists — a 19% increase compared to the previous year. India has emerged as one of Moscow’s top two non-CIS inbound tourism markets, with over 61,000 Indian travelers visiting the city during this period. Building on this momentum, Moscow made a strong impression at OTM 2025, held in Mumbai from January 30 to February 1, by captivating the Indian travel trade industry with its rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism offerings. The Moscow City Tourism Committee presented an engaging showcase of the city’s cultural, leisure, and business tourism opportunities, emphasizing its partiality towards the Indian market. “India remains a key market for Moscow’s tourism strategy, and we are pleased to see a steady increase in Indian visitors to our city. Through strategic partnerships, customized travel experiences, and immersive initiatives, we look forward to welcoming more Indian tourists and providing them with an unforgettable experience in our vibrant and historically rich city,” stated Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Moscow City Tourism Committee finalized two significant agreements aimed at bolstering tourism cooperation with Indian partners. A landmark cooperation agreement was signed with the State of Maharashtra, India’s second most populous and third-largest state. This strategic partnership is designed to foster mutual growth and promote tourism between Moscow and Maharashtra, with a special emphasis on enhancing travel links between the …

Moscow has signed an agreement to begin cooperation with India’s largest tour operator, Thomas Cook India Group, at a trade show in Mumbai. The capital of Russia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s largest tour operator, Thomas Cook India Group, at the international tourism trade show OTM in Mumbai. The agreement marks the beginning of active co-operation with the Indian side in the field of tourism. The document is primarily aimed at promoting Moscow as a key destination for leisure and business tourism in the Indian market, which the authorities of the Russian capital consider a priority market. Under the agreement, the parties plan to strengthen cooperation through the exchange of knowledge and best practices. They will also work on increasing awareness among the Indian tourism industry about Moscow’s tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) potential, and developing new travel products that are tailored to Indian travellers. “The Indian tour operator expressed interest in bringing its clients to Moscow this spring as part of a familiarization trip. The MoU was signed at the trade show, after we had agreed to organize a special presentation of Moscow as a tourist destination for Thomas Cook India Group and its clients, particularly in the MICE segment,” – said Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. According to him, Thomas Cook India Group representatives expressed their interest in promoting Moscow in the Indian market at the Meet Global MICE Congress: BRICS Edition, which took place in Moscow in December 2024. “The Thomas Cook India Group team are big fans of Moscow, and are considered …

Moscow is all set to captivate audiences at the OTM International Tourism Exhibition in Mumbai from January 30 to February 1, 2025. Over three days, the Russian capital will present the best it can offer in cultural, leisure, and business tourism. The Moscow stand will host over 500 key business meetings and negotiations during the event, connecting Moscow’s tourism sector representatives with their Indian counterparts. Experts from Moscow will present the city’s flagship projects, including the Moscow Tea Time Project that introduces visitors to Moscow tea traditions which are being restored nowadays, the Moscow Estates Festival, an iconic cultural event that attracts more than 100,000 tourists and citizens annually, the Moscow Gastronomy Project, the City of Discoveries educational project and RUSSPASS travel planning service. Joint projects include the Moscow+ Project, which fosters collaborative tourism across Russian regions — notably the Tyumen region with its Visit Tyumen Project. Moreover, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Moscow’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development, and the Department of Culture, the Moscow exposition will showcase the city’s export potential, alongside Discover Russia and Made in Moscow brands. Additionally, the stand will showcase key attractions like the VDNH Complex, blending Soviet-era architectural wonders with modern interactive museums, and Moskino Cinema Park that is already gaining attention from the Indian film industry for its potential as a filming destination. Moscow will also feature six leading tour operators, including Headed Goose, Tari Tour, Volshebny Tour, FUN & SUN, INTOURIST, Academservice, and three hotels: the Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, VEGA Hotel & Convention Center and Izmailovo Hotel Complex. They will cooperatively highlight the diverse range of services available to Indian travelers, from luxurious stays to …

The event brought together more than 1,300 representatives of the business tourism industry from BRICS countries, including Russia, Brazil, India and China, as well as countries of the Global South. The congress became the largest Russian event for an international audience in this particular sphere. Moscow recently hosted, the second edition of Meet Global MICE Congress: BRICS Edition, which brought together over 1,300 representatives of the business tourism industry from BRICS countries — including Russia, Brazil, India, and China — as well as nations from the Global South. This congress marked the largest Russian event catering to an international audience in the MICE sector. Now in its second year, the congress saw its participation and expert presence double, firmly establishing Moscow as a pivotal hub for fostering interaction, building connections, and creating new business opportunities among representatives from 17 BRICS and Global South countries. The core theme of this year’s business program was “Global Challenges and Trends of the MICE Industry: Towards Sustainable Development through the Prism of Experience and Knowledge of BRICS Countries and the Global South”.  Participants explored the major transformations shaping the global MICE market and discussed strategies for ensuring sustainable development within the industry. The program included sessions addressing key issues relevant to both public and private sectors. Topics ranged from developing congress and exhibition infrastructure to leveraging new technological solutions like big data and artificial intelligence. With 13 business sessions featuring over 50 Russian and international experts, the congress saw high-profile contributions from figures such as Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee; Amaresh Kumar Tiwari, Immediate Past Vice Chairman of the …

Mansions of the 19th century nobility are an integral part of the cultural heritage of Moscow. Magnificent estates grew following the industrial upsurge of the country, which peaked at the end of the 19th century and took over the beginning of the 20th century. The old aristocracy as well as merchants and industrialists occupied the best houses in Moscow and the city outskirts. These were urban and country houses where life was always bustling. Now these buildings make up the cultural center of the city. Today Moscow has the biggest number of mansions among European capitals and the city takes great responsibility when it comes to preserving this heritage for future generations. More than 60 historic estates have been restored over the past 12 years. The capital’s authorities plan to renovate another 74 mansions in the near future. Apart from the restoration works, Moscow is reigniting traditions and breathing new life into old estates, organizing a large-scale Moscow Estates Festival that attracts the attention of both residents and tourists to the capital’s heritage. The festival introduces Moscow’s history in a new interactive and engaging format. This year The Moscow Estates Festival was held for the 3rd time, and it was the largest one yet. In total, during the three months of the festival, held from June 15 till September 15, more than 3,000 events have been held at 40 venues – from historical picnics and performances to open-air concerts and modern musicals. Over 702,000 people have visited the third edition of the festival: both Muscovites and tourists from other cities and countries. Evgeniy Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee said, “While the Russian capital holds a big number …

Russia’s capital city recently became a film set for the Indian action movie “The Greatest of All Time” by director Venkat Prabhu. The movie was shot on Red Square, in Lyalin and Maly Kazenny Lanes and on other Moscow streets. Here are some tips on some other places to visit in Moscow to feel like you are “in a movie”. A guided tour of the legendary Mosfilm film studio can be no less impressive than Moscow’s classical museums and exhibitions. The grounds of the enormous film company are a genuine paradise for movie buffs and especially for connоisseurs of Soviet cinema, as almost all the best films from the Soviet period were made here. Mosfilm’s museum contains some genuine rarities, including a collection of retro cars, vintage carriages, movie props, costumes and bits of scenery, stands with rare camera equipment and even the original Worker and Kolkhoz Woman sculpture by Vera Mukhina – the studio’s familiar emblem. Open-air pavilions recreate for cinema the streets of old Saint Petersburg and pre-revolutionary Moscow, the Russian provinces and European cities. A popular new location for cinema tourism recently appeared in Moscow – the enormous Moskino cinema park. The city authorities have given permission to develop 320 hectares of former wasteland and rubbish dumps to create this unique space for film production, featuring pavilions and locations for outdoor shoots. The complex has been designed so that Russian and foreign film directors can make films on absolutely any topic and find suitable historical film sets. Here, you can already take a walk around the streets of a 1940s town on the outskirts of Moscow, imagine yourself as a peasant in a small Russan village or …

Moscow City Tourism Committee will host the BRICS+ Tourism Forum from 20 to 21 June this year, in Moscow. They expect to welcome 9 tourism ministers and 18 delegations from countries from the Middle East and South East Asia with over 300 delegates. It was revealed at the conference ‘Shaping the MICE Future,’ held recently.  

Aeroflot to resume direct regular flights to Indian state Goa from Moscow and Ekaterinburg. The services will be operated to international airport Dabolim (IATA: GOI). Tickets are available.  In line with bilateral agreement between India and Russia from September 30 three weekly flights from Sheremetyevo airport will be operated on wide-body Airbus A330 on Tuesdays, Fridays and   Saturdays. From October 3 three weekly flights from Ekaterinburg will be operated on Boeing 737- 800 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.   In addition to Goa, Aeroflot operates direct flights from Moscow to Delhi all year round. Traditionally the south of India is a favorite place for beach holidays of Russians in fall and winter. The flights are expected to be in high demand. Tourists will be able to get to the Indian Ocean coast in comfort and without transfers. The up-to-date schedule is available on Aeroflot’s website. “Goa flights to Moscow will boast tourism from Russia as well as India, as Russia has simplified the process for visa issuance for Indians, now Indians can apply for Russian visas online, except this cargo sector from western India will be in demand as trade between countries is increasing from last few months” said Dr. Naveen Rao Director of Delmos Aviation Pvt. Ltd.   

Ministry of Tourism is shifting its overseas office in Paris to Moscow, revealed Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism. On being asked if there will be another office in France, she revealed that there will be another office in Frankfurt, Germany to manage promotions in the region.

Indian flag carrier Air India has announced that it will operate a direct flight between Moscow’s Sheremetyevo AS Pushkin Airport and Goa airport every Thursday from April 14 to October 28, 2021. The carrier has opened bookings for the flight via its website, booking offices, call centre and authorised travel agents.