I met Elina Bataeva during my trip to Grozny (Chechen Republic) several years ago. A young modern and at the same time traditionally dressed lady impressed me with her ambitious plans for inbound tourism in one of the most knotted regions of Russia. Military actions of Chechen separatists…

An electronic visa to enter Russia may become multiple, Ivan Volynkin, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s consular department, said.

A short-term e-visa was supposed to start operating in Russia from January 1, 2021. However, due to COVID-19, the issuance of unified electronic visas…

In the third quarter of 2020, the total number of arrivals of foreigners to Russia decreased by 82% to 1,8 million, the FSB border service reported.

In the second quarter, 509 thousand foreigners arrived in Russia, and most of them were citizens of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the Philippines.…

Foreigners whose countries have visa-free travel agreements with Russia will once again be able to come to the country for short business trips, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Russia sealed its borders to nearly all foreigners in late March in an effort…

According to the latest data from the Border Service of Russia, 0 people visited Russia with tourist purposes in the second quarter of 2020.

Due to the lack of visits of foreigners with tourist purposes, inbound tourism in Russia in the first half of the year decreased by 83,6%, compared…

A representative for Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor told that the following categories of foreign citizens can travel to Russia:

— Diplomats and their family members,

— Members of intergovernmental commissions, committees or special delegations,

—…

Turkish Ambassador to Russia Mehmet Samsar said that the need to obtain Russian visas for Turkish citizens is the main obstacle for the growth of tourist flow.

“Turkish tourists are also interested in Russia. Unfortunately, the visa regime that Russia still applies for Turkish citizens is…

A simplified entry regime into the Russian Federation from 2021 will be valid for almost half of the people living in the world. This will make Russia one of the most opened countries in the world, reported the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Since 2021, the most liberal…

From January to March 2020, 5,5 million foreigners visited Russia. Of these, 322,8 thousand people came with tourist purposes. This is 140 thousand less than in the same period last year. Inbound flow to Russia fell in almost all destinations.

The main flow of foreigners into Russia is from…

The head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, believes that this year only internal tourism is possible on the peninsula due to the situation with the spread of coronavirus infection.

“There will be no foreign tourism. Everyone understands this. As for domestic tourism, if there are corresponding…

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin extended for an indefinite period the ban on the entry of foreign citizens into Russia. Tour operators hope the restoration of inbound tourism in Russia will begin in October-November this year.

“Until April 30, inclusive, there is a restriction on entry…

Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency (Rosturizm) wants to help the industry recover from the coronavirus crisis by relaxing visa rules after the country reopens its borders.

According to the agency’s recommendations, Russia should introduce multiple-entry tourist visas valid for up to five years…

The Russian Far East Kamchatka Peninsula prepares new tourist programs and routes to attract visitors not only during the summer season but also in autumn, the region’s head of the tourism agency Elena Tratonova told.

In 2019, Kamchatka welcomed more than 240 000 tourists (a growth by 26…

The Moscow mayor’s office seeks to keep an eye not just on its native citizens, but also foreign tourists. The city authorities have shown an interest in creating a surveillance system to track the movement of tourists around the Russian capital using data from mobile phone operators.

According…

Domestic tourism in Russia may resume in July, but the country’s resorts will have to reduce prices by 20-40% in order to attract visitors after the pandemic, the CEO of tour operator Intourist Victor Topolkaraev has said.

“If the situation with coronavirus will go on a positive scenario,…

The Belarusian Railway has temporarily canceled train connections to Moscow and St. Petersburg from April 5 due to the closure of the Russian border due to the situation with the coronavirus.

Since March 30, the Russian government has limited traffic through road, rail, pedestrian, river…

The ban does not apply on repatriation, freight, postal, sanitary and humanitarian transportation.

The decline of international flights from Russia began gradually from February 1. The restrictions were applied in several stages: firstly, were limited the flights to China, South Korea and…

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin: from March 28 all health resorts and public catering to suspend operation

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered to suspend accommodation in sanatoriums, resorts, as well as to stop the operation of public catering services. 

The…

Russia further restricted transport access on Sunday, banning a large amount of flights to and from foreign destinations. The move largely affects routes to secondary cities and holiday resorts, with most capital cities exempt.

The exceptions are regular routes connecting the Russian capital…