Inviting Indian tourists to St. Petersburg

Saint Petersburg was, more than 250 years ago, for the first time called "the window through which Russia looked at Europe." The phrase was coined by a foreigner, the Italian traveler Francesco Algarote. The city is perceived in Europe as the city built by Peter I, and it reflected his designs as a modern king.

This unofficial name for the city was fixed by the good graces of the poet Alexander Pushkin, and continues to this day. St. Petersburg really is, in many ways, a window to Europe for Russia, but it is also a window to Russia for foreigners. Even more specifically, it is a window into the European Russia, which wanted to and became a part of Europe. The city is a window into Russia’s history, culture and spiritual quest.

That is why St. Petersburg is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia, for foreigners, including Indians, and for Russians themselves.

Indian tourists urged to go beyond Moscow and St Petersburg

The tourist flow from India to Russia is growing. According to the Federal Tourism Agency, for the first 9 months of 2015, 23,300 Indian tourists visited Russia, compared to 16,000 who visited in 2014. The figure is set to rise this year, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi estimates. The number of tourist visas issued to Indians in 2016 will rise considerably, and may exceed 30,000.

According to the Embassy of India in Moscow, “Almost all of the Indians coming to Russia are visiting Moscow and Saint-Petersburg”.

“Moscow and Saint-Petersburg are the most popular cities among Indian tourists in Russia. That is a fact,” a diplomat from the Russian Embassy in Delhi told RIR.

To boost the positive dynamics, authorities of both countries intend to seriously step up efforts to attract tourists. The Tourism Development Committee of St. Petersburg will hold a presentation of the city’s tourist potential in New Delhi and Mumbai on September 26 and 27.

A delegation comprising Alexandr Martynov, head of regional and international projects of the Committee on development of tourism in St. Petersburg, representatives of the St. Petersburg state agency "City Tourist and Information Bureau, tourism companies, hotel infrastructure of St. Petersburg and public and private cultural institutions of St. Petersburg will visit India.

In search of the ‘real’ Russia

“All the delegation participants would like to establish strong relations between Russia and India and begin effective cooperation in tourism development between our countries,” states the press release issued by the tourism development Committee of St. Petersburg. 

A workshop will be held at the venue, where Russian and Indian participants will have an opportunity to communicate with each other in an informal setting. After the workshop representatives of the St. Petersburg will hold a lottery with prizes – souvenirs from St.Petersburg and promo tours.

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