MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. The amount of foreign tourists who came to Russia in 2024 increased by more than a third compared to 2023, to 4.2 million people, the government said.

"In 2024, the number of foreign tourists increased by more than a third (4.2 million). People from the Middle East and Asian countries began to travel to Russia more frequently. A manifold increase (6-10 times) was recorded for countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar," it said in a statement.

Last year, the number of tourists who came to Russia from Southeast Asian countries, in particular, from Indonesia and Malaysia, quadrupled. China and India also showed growth (by 100% and by 30%, respectively).

"Previously implemented measures are having an effect: e-visas, visa-free group trips, promoting the Russian tourism brand abroad," the government noted.

Also, Russia's international flights network is expanding. Direct flights to Vietnam, Indonesia and Bahrain were launched in 2024. Routes to China, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Belarus have all significantly expanded.