Russia and Malaysia discuss launching direct flights between two countries

The second meeting of the Russian-Malaysian Working Group on Tourism was held in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia. The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Dmitry Vakhrukov. The main topic of the meeting was the development of mutual tourist flows and the creation of comfortable conditions for citizens of both countries.

During the negotiations, the parties exchanged experiences in promoting national tourism products, presented achievements in the field of domestic and inbound tourism, and discussed further steps to strengthen cooperation. This is reported by the official website of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

According to Dmitry Vakhrukov, interest in travel between Russia and Malaysia is growing significantly: the number of Russian tourists visiting the country in 2024 exceeded the pre-pandemic level by 40 per cent, reaching 113,000 trips.

The key areas of dialogue were the preparation of an intergovernmental agreement on tourism, the simplification of visa procedures for Malaysian citizens, and the launch of direct air links between the two countries. The parties called the latter an important stimulus for the development of both business and resort tourism.

According to tourism industry experts, Russians' interest in Malaysia as an exotic destination continues to grow. To unlock the country's potential, the parties agreed to actively develop business contacts, joint tour packages and participation in industry exhibitions.