The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) has officially announced that its 6th convention will be held in Moscow, Russia from July 10 to 13, 2025. The event is expected to draw approximately 180 delegates from across India, marking a significant step in growing outbound tourism from India to Moscow.
The announcement was made at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday (April 15), attended by nearly 50 industry stakeholders, including members of the OTOAI executive committee, representatives from the Moscow City Tourism Committee and prominent media professionals. The session was led by Convention Chairman Shravan Bhalla and Co-Chairperson Monia Kapoor.
Highlighting the rationale behind selecting Moscow, OTOAI President Himanshu Patil said, “We visited the city twice as part of our evaluation and found it to be both vibrant and safe. The convenience of Russia’s e-visa system for Indian travellers with a quick turnaround is significantly boosting outbound travel to Moscow. Indian corporates are increasingly considering Moscow as an emerging destination for incentive travel and with improved air connectivity, MICE tourism from India has the potential to grow exponentially.”
Currently, Russian carrier Aeroflot operates seven weekly flights to New Delhi and three to Goa. Since the introduction of e-visas for Indian passport holders in August 2023, Indian arrivals to Moscow have surged. In 2024, the Russian capital welcomed 85,800 Indian tourists – a 40% increase over the previous year, placing India second among non-CIS source markets just behind China.
The convention venue, The Carlton, Moscow, is strategically located in the heart of the city. “We aim to showcase some of Moscow’s premier properties suitable for weddings and MICE events. With competitive pricing and rich sightseeing options, Moscow presents a strong alternative for Indian travellers visiting Europe. It caters to a wide range of segments from luxury and honeymooners to families,” said Bhalla.
Anastasia Popova, Head of the Business Tourism Development Department at the Moscow City Tourism Committee, shared insights into the city’s growing popularity among Indian visitors. “We are observing a strong uptick in business travel from India with many business visitors returning with friends and family. This convention will provide Indian travel agents a valuable opportunity to connect with local stakeholders such as hotels and DMCs and better understand the city’s MICE infrastructure and leisure experiences. We are also working to position Moscow as a hub for weddings and film tourism.”
The post-convention tour will allow delegates to visit St. Petersburg for a period of 3 nights, which in July offers a captivating blend of vibrant city life and the magic of the White Nights.