Ilya Umansky, President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI), and Yevgeny Primakov, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting the Russian language, popularizing Russian culture, and shaping an attractive image of Russia abroad, according to the RTI website.

 

The document places particular emphasis on developing inbound tourism, which facilitates international cultural exchange and increases the tourism sector’s contribution to the country’s economy.

 

«RUTI is the largest public association, uniting over 3,500 companies engaged in the development of the tourism industry. We work in various areas. Currently, our agenda places a strong emphasis on developing domestic tourism and infrastructure within the country. However, the state always focuses on developing inbound tourism, as it is a unique sector that has great political significance, as it shapes the image of our country in the eyes of foreigners. «It’s enough to cite examples of such grand events as the 2014 Olympics or the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which were attended by a large number of foreign guests and which transformed the perception of the country,» Ilya Umansky said at the signing ceremony.

 

He emphasized that, in addition to political significance, the development of inbound tourism also has significant economic significance.

 

«Inbound tourism is the purest export. Unlike any other goods our country can export, the export of experiences is limitless. As part of the work currently underway both domestically and within our business, we have developed a project called VisitRussia, which we are currently promoting to make it as easy as possible for foreign guests to visit Russia, get to know it, and ultimately become our friends,» the RUST president added.

 

«We are present in 42 countries worldwide. These include Russian cultural centers, scientific and cultural centers, popularly known as ‘Russian Houses,’ and our representatives at embassies. «We invite not only the Russian Union of Travel Industry, but also all our partners, higher education institutions, and regions to rely on our network as their field offices. We also have our exchange programs and internship programs in Russia for young people aged 14-40. We’ve had delegations here, including from the tourism industry, working with the Moscow government, so there’s plenty to draw on here, too. Presentations of our shared tourism opportunities, inviting people. The app experience is very interesting. Especially since we’re now launching the «Rodina» map—a digital service for our compatriots,» Yevgeny Primakov noted.

 

According to the signing ceremony participants, this cooperation will allow the tourism industry and the government to combine their efforts in international cooperation. The plan is to develop joint programs, create a unified information environment, exchange analytical data, and build long-term mechanisms to support Russian tourism initiatives on the international stage.

 

The roadmap for joint activities includes the «Visit Russia» information project—an app for foreign tourists planning trips to Russia that allows them to book all necessary travel services, obtain information on visa formalities, and prepare border crossing documents. The project is being officially designated as a tool for promoting Russia’s tourism potential, providing high-quality information support, and attracting foreign tourists. A number of activities are envisaged within the approved Visit Russia work plan. These include holding a series of «Visit Russia Open Day» meetings abroad, creating and promoting informational content about Russia on official social media and the Visit Russia mobile app, organizing press events, publishing in international media, and more.