2018 has been declared as the Russia-India Cross Year of Tourism. The corresponding agreement was signed by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.
"Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism and India’s Ministry of Tourism will develop bilateral relations and improve mutual contacts in culture and tourism of both countries. India traditionally participates in Russian international tourism exhibitions, and Russia takes part in tourism exhibitions in India," reported Rosturism.
Within the Cross Year of Tourism, the Russian national tourist office, VISIT RUSSIA, has already been opened in India. In addition, in 2017, the countries relaxed visa requirements for travelers.
India is a promising tourist partner for Russia. Cooperation in tourism between Russia and India has existed since 1994 and it is based on the Agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of India. Nowadays, according to experts, tourist exchange between the countries is growing. Over the past seven years, the flow of tourists has practically doubled.
The Russian Geographical Society has shown interest in studying India since long ago. Many eminent members of the Russian Geographical Society dedicated their works to this subject. For example, Yuli Shokalsky, a geographer scientist and the Chairman of the Society in 1917-1931, wrote an article about the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, whose expedition was the first in history to go by sea from Europe to India.
Under the auspices of the Society, several expeditions to India were organized. In particular, in 2016, a large-scale expedition along the Great Silk Road, “We Remember and We Are Proud”, was organized by the Penza regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society and the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. The expedition ran through India. This year, volunteers from India were among the participants in the Tunnug archeological expedition.