Mutual visa cancellation with Qatar activates inbound tourism

The diplomatic departments of the Russian Federation and Qatar have signed an agreement on the mutual abolition of visas. In the near future, Russians will be able to visit Qatar without a visa, but de facto even today entry into this country is extremely simplified for them. Of much greater importance is the abolition of Russian visas for Qatar citizens.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on December 27, 2019, a ceremony was held to conclude an Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the State of Qatar on the mutual cancellation of visa requirements for citizens of the two countries.

In accordance with the agreement, citizens of each country will be able to visit another state without any formalities. The duration of the trip can be no more than 90 days for each period of 180 days.

In fact, the signed agreement does not change much in the existing order of arrival of classic Russian tourists to Qatar, who buy tours for 8-14 nights.

As the Border Service of the Russian Federation reported, over the first 9 months of 2019, 86 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation visited Qatar, including 73 866 people with tourist purpose (+ 1% compared to the same period in 2018).

Russian tour operators call Qatar as one of the promising areas of the Middle East. Currently, there are direct flights, connecting Doha with Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The abolition of visas, experts say, can at least double the existing flow of tourists from Qatar this year.