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Electronic visas can increase foreign tourism in Russia by 20-30%

The advisor to the head of the Federal Agency for Tourism said earlier that Russia’s inbound tourism flow is on track to grow by 15% thanks to Russia-hosted 2018 FIFA World Cup

© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

ASTRAKHAN, February 26. /TASS/. Expanding the practice of issuing electronic visas to foreigners in the future may increase the incoming tourist flow to Russia by 20-30%, Deputy Economic Development Minister Sergey Galkin told reporters on Tuesday.

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"Our main goal is to reduce administrative barriers and visa formalities so that visas can be obtained more easily, more quickly. Basic estimates are up to 30% (for growth of foreign tourist traffic due to electronic visas - TASS). If we are talking about the development of basic tourist infrastructure in the host regions, of course, this potential will be even greater. In general, we see growth prospects of 20-30% at least," Galkin said.

Advisor to head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Andrey Monakov told TASS earlier that Russia’s inbound tourism flow is on track to grow by 15% thanks to Russia-hosted 2018 FIFA World Cup. According to Monakov, the Agency plans to assume measures to keep Russia’s inbound tourism flow from declining further on.

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