Moscow: The number of foreign tourist trips to Russia increased by 40% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching approximately 5 million, stated Igor Maksimov, Deputy Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at the Ministry of Economic Development.
According to Lao News Agency, this significant rise is attributed to last year’s promotional efforts. Maksimov highlighted that when considering hotel accommodations, foreign tourist trips reached around 5 million, while international air transportation figures suggest between 9 to 10 million. Notably, Kamchatka experienced a 1.5 times increase in tourist numbers.
Maksimov emphasized the efforts made over the past two years to enhance inbound tourism. Initiatives include the introduction of an electronic visa mechanism and the development of visa-free group travel agreements with China and Iran. Furthermore, Russia has been marketed internationally under the Discover Russia brand.
The deputy director also mentioned that the Discover Russia brand has facilitated the launch of new international charter programs and the signing of commercial agreements aimed at attracting tourists to various regions across Russia.