India Becomes Second-Largest Source of Tourists to Moscow in 2025

India Emerges as Second-Largest Source Market for Tourists Arrival in Moscow in H1 2025

Moscow welcomed approximately 40,800 visitors from India in the first half of 2025, marking a 40% increase compared to the same period last year. India has become the second-largest source of tourist arrivals among non-CIS countries.

In total, more than half a million travelers from outside the CIS region visited Moscow between January and June 2025, representing a 10% rise year-on-year. According to the Moscow City Tourism Committee, this increase reflects both the growing interest from Asian markets and Moscow’s expanding appeal as a global tourism destination.

Hotel data also indicates continued growth in international visitation. As reported by Rosstat, the number of foreign guests staying in Moscow hotels increased by 14% in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Data from online booking platform Ostrovok shows that 94% of all summer bookings in 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels were made by travelers from non-CIS countries — up from 85% last year — with Indian tourists among the most frequent guests in the premium accommodation segment.

The rise in tourists arrival from India is supported by several factors. Moscow has become more accessible through the e-visa system, allowing travelers to apply online within four days without the need for invitations or hotel confirmations. Additionally, a diverse events calendar featuring cultural festivals and business conferences continues to attract Indian visitors.

As part of the city’s “Summer in Moscow” program, two major events celebrating Indian culture — the International Day of Yoga and Bharat Utsav (Festival of India in Moscow) — were hosted this year, highlighting Moscow’s growing cultural engagement with India.

Moscow has also introduced India-focused initiatives such as the Indian Vibes in Moscow guide, which provides information on hotels, gastronomy, and India-related attractions.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee continues to strengthen its partnerships with the Indian travel industry by participating in leading tourism exhibitions such as OTM, SATTE, BLTM, and MILT Congress. It has also organized familiarization trips and hosted targeted business missions to Moscow. A key highlight was the OTOAI Convention 2025, the first-ever held in Russia, which brought together over 250 Indian tour operators, media representatives, and travel professionals for an in-depth introduction to Moscow’s hospitality and cultural offerings.

Looking ahead, Moscow plans to maintain its engagement with the Indian market through upcoming events such as the Meet Global MICE Congress 2025, further supporting collaboration and tourists growth.

In 2024, Moscow hosted around 26 million visitors, contributing approximately 235 billion rubles (USD 2.65 billion) in budget revenues. By 2030, the city aims to welcome up to six million international tourists annually, with strong contributions expected from India, China, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East.

Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Mr. Vinay Kumar, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, said, “Initiatives like ‘Summer in Moscow’ enrich the city’s cultural life and help showcase how welcoming Moscow is. These events give tourists and foreign delegations an opportunity to discover the city not only through its landmarks but also through its people, public spaces, and cultural diversity. This format is particularly attractive because the festivities unfold right in the streets and parks—the very places where people gather in the summer.”