The number of trips of foreign citizens to the Russian Federation has increased almost 2 times

In the first half of 2024, the number of trips made by foreign citizens to the Russian Federation increased almost 2 times.

“The number of tourist trips has increased by almost half in six months, plus 42% to 2 million. Citizens of the Middle East countries have begun to visit Russia more actively. There is an 11-fold increase in a number of countries, for example, in Saudi Arabia. That is, explosive growth. Oman, Kuwait 6 times. The United Arab Emirates – 4 times. And China has almost the same amount,” Interfax quotes Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the Ministry of Economic Development.

According to the head of the department, the introduction of electronic visas and visa-free group trips contributed to the growth of tourist flow from abroad. It is clarified that 800 thousand foreign tourists used these mechanisms of entry to Russia in 2024.

In addition, Maxim Reshetnikov noted that new international air routes are regularly launched. So, in June, 20 routes were launched.

“And now our key tasks are direct flights with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. This will also give an incoming flow, and it will also give our people opportunities for outbound tourism,” Maxim Reshetnikov said.

Источник