Chennai, Oct. 2023
The Moscow City Tourism Committee revealed that Indian businessmen are paying
ever growing attention to Russia and its capital, as over the last 2 years the MICE
tourist flow from India has grown to become one of the most numerous groups
among all foreign business tourists outside the CIS countries.
Business + Leisure Travel and MICE 2023 opened on 29 th of September at New
Delhi with a keynote speech from the Chairman of The Moscow City Tourism
Committee, Mr. Evgeny Kozlov. In his speech, the Chairman spoke about the
potential for MICE and business tourism in Moscow and the growing number of
Indian businessmen who are choosing Moscow as their preferred destination for
business events.
Mr. Evgeny Kozlov highlighted that the number of business tourists is expected to
grow in the coming years. One of the factors supporting the growth of interest from
Indian businessmen was the launch of electronic visa program. From August 1,
2023, it has become easier for Indian citizens to organize a trip to Moscow – they can
come simply by applying for an electronic visa. The validity period of an e-visa is 60
days from the date of its issuance. You can stay with it in Russia for 16 days. An e-
visa has several advantages over a traditional visa. To obtain it, you do not need to
go to consulates or embassies, and the only documents required are a digital
photograph of your face and a scan of the page with your passport data.
“Before the pandemic, the tourist flow from India grew by 12-15 percent annually.
Now we are on the road to recovery – all the conditions have been created for this.
Every year hundreds of international exhibitions, forums, congresses and
conferences are held in Moscow. Over the past year, about 3.5 million people visited
the capital for business purposes and a significant share of them are from India” – he
said.
Evgeny Kozlov emphasized that Moscow is a growing hub for international business
events and Indian businessmen could benefit from attending these events to expand
their network and explore potential business opportunities. The Moscow MICE
Ambassadors program, which also premiered at the exhibition, aims to promote
Moscow as a preferred destination for business tourism, and Indian businessmen
who have completed the program can serve as valuable resources for organizing
conferences and events in Moscow. Furthermore, Moscow offers a range of world-
class facilities and services for business travelers, including conference centers,
hotels, transportation, and sightseeing. He also mentioned that Moscow’s rich
cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife could provide Indian businessmen with unique
experiences that could enhance their overall business trip.
In conclusion, Mr. Evgeny Kozlov expressed his optimism for the future of MICE and
business tourism in Moscow. Thus, in October 2023, Moscow will host the largest
MICE Congress in Russia. Among the participants are 14 countries, including
Indians. The event will provide a platform for businesses in the travel and tourism
industry to showcase their products and services.
Moscow City Tourism Committee is the executive body of the Moscow City
Government that oversees tourist activities in the capital. The Committee is
responsible for legislative initiatives, congress and exhibition activities, and event
and image projects. As the brand manager for an attractive tourism image for
Moscow, Mostourism constantly analyses global trends, offers Russian and foreign
tourists what they want, and also uncovers new opportunities for the capital in terms
of interesting and rewarding leisure activities.
For more details, please visit: https://www.mos.ru/tourism
