Russia is advancing efforts to establish direct flights with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, and is also negotiating a visa-free regime with Saudi Arabia, according to Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov.
During a recent government meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Reshetnikov highlighted these initiatives as key objectives. "We are focusing on direct air connections with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The foreign ministry is also working on negotiations with Saudi Arabia regarding a visa-free regime," he said.
Reshetnikov noted a significant rise in foreign tourist demand for Russia. In the first half of the year, the number of international visitors to Russia nearly doubled, reaching 2 million trips. Notably, tourist arrivals from the Middle East and Asia have surged: visits from Saudi Arabia have increased twelvefold, from Oman and Kuwait sixfold, and from the UAE fourfold. A similar increase has been observed from China.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS