India-Russia: Visa-free travel between India and Russia will soon become a reality as consultations between both countries on a bilateral agreement to facilitate travel will begin in June. Moscow and New Delhi are set to enhance their tourism connections by initiating visa-free group tourist exchanges by the end of 2024, a Russian Minister said.
“India is at the final stage of internal state coordination,” Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects, was quoted by RT News as saying.
The minister also said that the first discussion on the draft of the agreement would take place in June, whereas, a signing was expected by the year’s end. He was speaking at the sidelines of the International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2024” in Kazan.
“Russia and India are set to strengthen their tourism ties as they gear up for the launch of visa-free group tourist exchanges. The first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June, to finalise a bilateral agreement by the end of the year,” the minister said.
Kondratyev further said that Russia will try to replicate the success of visa-free tourist programs already established with China and Iran.
Russia and China started their visa-free group tourist program on August 1 last year. Similarly, a visa-free group tourist program between Russia and Iran began on the same date, signalling a new phase of tourism collaboration.
ALSO READ: Delhi: Massive Fire Engulfs Banquet Hall Near Kalkaji Metro Station; Fire Tenders Rushed To Spot
Indians can travel visa-free to Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Hong Kong, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue Island, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, and Trinidad & Tobago, among others.