India-Russia tourism ties set to deepen as OTOAI announces its 6th Annual Convention in Moscow in July

-“There’s still some misunderstanding around Moscow, particularly regarding safety—many travellers are still unsure about how easy it is to visit Russia or would have lingering safety concerns. This convention is our chance to show Indian tour operators and media firsthand that Moscow is not only safe, but also very accessible,” said Anastasia Popova, Head of the Business Tourism Development, Dept. of the Moscow City Tourism Committee.

-The upcoming convention will be hosted at the Carlton Hotel Moscow (formerly The Ritz-Carlton), and the Russian carrier, Aeroflot has come onboard as the official airline partner.

-The announcement comes on the back of strategic visits conducted by OTOAI officials to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities over the last few months, that also aimed at restating that Russia is now safe to visit.

The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) has announced that its 6th Annual Convention will be held in Moscow, Russia, from July 10 to 13, 2025. The announcement was made at a press conference in New Delhi, where Executive Committee and senior members of OTOAI and the delegates from Moscow City Tourism Committee highlighted the opportunities and plans tied to this convention.

Marking the official commencement, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Moscow City Tourism Committee and OTOAI.

The upcoming convention, to be attended by 180 plus delegates, will be hosted at the Carlton Hotel Moscow (formerly The Ritz-Carlton), and the Russian carrier, Aeroflot has come onboard as the official airline partner. The event will feature destination presentations, city tours, exclusive B2B meetings, and business sessions, with the convention theme to be unveiled shortly.

This announcement comes on the back of strategic visits conducted by OTOAI officials to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities over the last few months, that also aimed at restating that Russia is now safe to visit.

Russia is ready for Indian tourists

Responding to some safety concerns risen in the past, OTOAI President Himanshu Patil reassured that travelling to Moscow is ‘safe and secure’ for tourists. “On both our visits, life in Moscow felt just as normal and vibrant as in cities like Mumbai or Delhi. During our December trip—around Christmas—the city was alive and festive. There were no security concerns. After over eight months of discussions and two visits to assess the on-ground situation, we found everything to be normal and well-organised, which gave us the confidence to finalise Moscow as our convention destination.”

Patil reiterated that operators were largely selling Russia as a destination before the pandemic, but the interest had waned due to limited communication and visa challenges. However, things have changed significantly—Russia introduced an easy e-visa system in 2023, which takes just three days and is entirely online. “That simplicity, along with improved air connectivity—including flights from Delhi and Goa—makes travel to Russia much more accessible now. Also, we’re confident that post our convention, demand for Russia will grow significantly,” Patil stated.

Answering a question posed by T3, Anastasia Popova, Head of the Business Tourism Development, Dept. of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, shared that several steps have already been initiated with regards to perception management. “There’s still some misunderstanding around Moscow, particularly regarding safety—many travellers are still unsure about how easy it is to visit Russia or would have lingering safety concerns. This convention is our chance to show Indian tour operators and media firsthand that Moscow is not only safe, but also very accessible. Visa procedures are simple, and direct connectivity makes the journey even easier.”

Tourist arrivals and connectivity

India is now identified as one of the top three priority markets by Moscow City Tourism Committee. In 2024, Russia welcomed approximately 85,800 Indian tourists, a number expected to grow significantly with positive awareness and improved connectivity, said Popova.

Currently, there are seven direct flights from Delhi to Moscow and three from Goa, and officials expressed hope that these numbers will grow as demand increases.

“More flights will come as airlines see growing interest from Indian travellers,” she added.

“A visa-free regime for Indian tourist groups is also something that both Indian and Russian governments are actively working on. Once in place, it will significantly ease travel between India and Moscow.”

Since August 2023, the tourism committee has also ramped up promotional efforts through participation in platforms like SATTE and other expos, in addition to launching specialised initiatives for the Indian trade.

One such initiative is the Moscow MICE Ambassadors Programme, launched in 2023. It’s an online certification programme aimed at empowering Indian MICE agents and event organisers. “The MICE movement from India is a very large market and is growing. We want to attract more business coming from India to Moscow. Under the MICE Ambassadors Programme, 50 Indian professionals took part in 2023 and in 2024, 200 participants had already registered. The programme helps organisers navigate everything from visas to unique incentive ideas. Given the scale and growth of India's outbound MICE movement, the programme aims to create a well-informed network of planners who can confidently consider Moscow for business events. In 2025, we plan to revive this programme,” Maya Anurova, Deputy Head of the Business Tourism Development, Moscow City Tourism Committee further explained.

MICE tourism has great potential in Moscow, echoed Patil. “All that’s needed now is more direct flights to unlock large group movements and incentivised travel from India. The demand is there for business related travel; what’s needed is an enhanced connectivity.”

150 travel and tour operators to participate

With the groundwork already laid and enthusiasm running high, OTOAI expects around 150 Indian travel and tour operators to participate in the July 2025 convention which will be followed by post-event familiarisation tours. Packages start at INR 79,999, covering stays, meals, transfers, sightseeing, intercity trains, and more. Delegates can expect destination presentations, B2B meetings, city tours, and exciting lucky draws.

 “Moscow is a complete destination—it caters to family groups, FITs, special incentive travellers, and even destination weddings and film shoots. From luxury stays to vibrant nightlife and stunning venues, it has something for everyone. Our convention will give over 150 tour operators and travel agents firsthand experience of all this. OTOAI plans to open registrations for the convention by the end of April, and more details regarding the agenda, speakers, and accommodation will be shared in the coming weeks,” shared Shravan Bhalla, Vice President, OTOAI, who will also be serving as the Convention Chairman.

Additionally, the association’s Joint Secretary, Monia Kapoor has been appointed as the Co-Convention Chairman.

Notably, the past OTOAI conventions have been held in destinations like South Africa, Turkey, and Ras Al Khaimah, and have consistently drawn high participation from key outbound operators across India.