Rostourism hopes to return foreign tourists no later than in January 2021

The Federal Tourism Agency hopes to return foreign tourists no later than in January 2021, after the introduction of an electronic visa throughout Russia, the department head Zarina Doguzova said at a press conference.

"We have a key support measure for inbound tourism - this is the start of the electronic visa regime from January 1, 2021 throughout Russia," she said. Doguzova added that tour operators will receive expanded state support for foreign tourists.

“Among the support measures that we launched for the first time last year, subsidizing of tour operators for foreign tourists is a generally accepted international practice. Even Turkey has subsidized tour operators for many decades for every foreign tourist. We launched this mechanism from last year; it worked in pilot mode. So, as soon as possible, we will expand this measure of support," she said.

According to the bill, from January 1, 2021, a universal single-entry visa will be introduced in Russia for the short-term stay of foreign citizens entering the country with tourism, business and humanitarian purposes. The visa will be valid for up to 60 calendar days with a permitted stay in Russia up to 16 days. The possibility of obtaining electronic visas will be given to citizens of foreign countries, which will be included in the list approved by the government of the Russian Federation. The list has not yet been determined.

In the pilot areas of the project are the Far Eastern Federal District, the Kaliningrad Region, as well as St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Citizens of 53 foreign countries can apply for electronic visas, including EU member states, China, Japan, India, Turkey and others.