Moscow is currently hosting Bharat Utsav, a week-long festival spotlighting Indian culture through music, dance, wellness and traditional crafts. As the event draws large crowds to Manezhnaya Square, attention is also turning towards a key tourism industry meeting scheduled next week.
On July 15, the city will host the OTOAI Convention, a gathering of hospitality and travel professionals from both India and Russia. Organised by the Association of Outbound Tourism Operators of India, with support from the local government, the convention aims to expand cooperation between the two countries’ tourism sectors.
Industry representatives, including tour operators, hotel chains and tourism boards are expected to attend. Discussions will focus on boosting travel flows, launching new joint initiatives and strengthening India-Russia ties in outbound and inbound tourism.
A Cultural Lead-Up
The ongoing Bharat Utsav festival, which is open till Sunday, has provided a strong cultural backdrop ahead of the business-focused convention. Visitors to the square near Red Square can take part in a host of activities. Be it joining yoga classes, exploring Indian folk art, witnessing traditional dance performances or joining interactive sessions on India’s cultural diversity.
Artistes from across India are performing throughout the week. Meanwhile, an exhibition of Indian handicrafts, clothing and regional artwork is showcasing creative traditions.
Strengthening Bilateral Engagement
With India ranking among Moscow’s top non-CIS sources of international visitors, both sides see continued potential in tourism exchange. Moscow city officials say the upcoming OTOAI meeting will be an opportunity to explore practical steps for increasing visitor numbers and building long-term cooperation.
“There’s a growing interest in Indian culture and tourism in Moscow,” said Bulat Nurmukhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. “We view the upcoming industry meeting as a chance to deepen our collaboration and support new partnerships.”
As Bharat Utsav wraps up this weekend, the focus will shift to next week’s tourism summit. A timely follow-up to a cultural celebration that has already brought India and Russia a little closer.
