Russia and Qatar prepare to sign tourism cooperation agreement

Russia and Qatar are moving towards signing a new intergovernmental agreement aimed at expanding cooperation in the tourism sector. The announcement was made during talks in Doha between Russia’s Minister of Economic Development Maksim Reshetnikov and the Chair of Qatar’s Tourism Authority Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, held as part of the Russian minister’s working visit to the country.

According to the minister, visa-free entry and the steady expansion of direct air routes have become important drivers of travel growth between Russia and the Middle East. Mutual travel flows between Russia and Qatar rose by 26 per cent in 2024, reaching around 120,000 trips, with similar levels expected this year. This is reported by the official website of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Reshetnikov noted that further growth will depend on increasing passenger capacity and broadening the network of direct flights beyond the capitals, linking major tourism and transport hubs in both countries. In Russia, key destinations include Sochi, Saint Petersburg and Kazan – regions that have adopted halal and “Muslim-friendly” standards to ensure comfortable travel conditions for visitors from Arab states. Several hotels in Moscow, Sochi and Kazan have already been certified, with more than 100 additional facilities applying for approval.

Russia has also introduced a pilot set of seven tourism products designed specifically for visitors from Arab countries, spanning regions from Siberia to the Far East. These programmes are presented in a national travel catalogue, with new offers due to be added before the end of the year.

The minister emphasised that a new joint investment platform worth US$2 billion – agreed earlier this year by the leaders of both countries – could serve as a strong foundation for long-term tourism cooperation. Russia, he noted, has significantly upgraded its travel infrastructure, offering 950,000 rooms across more than 28,000 hotels, resorts and sanatoria. By 2030, a further 347 hotels and over 40 major tourism facilities – including waterparks, theme parks and mountain resorts – are expected to be built across the country.

Both sides agreed to organise business missions to inspect new tourism and investment projects, as well as exchange information on promising opportunities in both markets.

Qatar supported Russia’s proposal to establish a joint tourism working group within the bilateral intergovernmental commission. The first meeting is expected to take place either in May during the “Russia–Islamic World” forum in Kazan or in June at Russia’s largest tourism event in Moscow.

In the near future, the two governments plan to sign a formal agreement to advance cooperation in tourism.

Photo: hasan zaidi / iStock