Pact for visa-free group travel between Russia and India, likely by the end of this year.
Moscow:
Consultations between Russia and India on a bilateral agreement to facilitate travel will begin in June, a Russian minister said, adding that Moscow and New Delhi should strengthen their tourism ties by launching visa-free tourist group exchanges.
“India is at the final stage of internal state coordination,” said Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, as quoted by RT News.
The minister on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2024” in Kazan said that the first discussion on a draft agreement was scheduled for June, and the signing was expected by the end of the year.
“Russia and India are set to strengthen their tourism ties as they prepare to launch visa-free group tour exchanges. The first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June, with the aim of finalizing a bilateral agreement by the end of the year”, said the minister.
Kondratyev said Russia plans to replicate the success of visa-free tourist exchanges already established with China and Iran.
Russia and China began their visa-free group tourist exchange on August 1 last year.
Similarly, a visa-free group tourist exchange between Russia and Iran began on the same date, ushering in a new era of tourism cooperation.
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