Dushanbe: Russian tourists made over 3.75 million trips to Central Asian countries last year, with the number of Russian travelers to the region growing steadily, Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Murat Kerefov stated during his speech at the first Central Asian International Economic Forum in Dushanbe.

According to Lao News Agency, Kerefov highlighted that an increasing number of Russians are choosing Central Asian destinations for their vacations. Among these, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan witnessed the most significant increases in tourist arrivals from Russia.

Kerefov underscored the importance of boosting tourism exchanges between Russia and Central Asia. Efforts are underway to enhance legislation, reduce financial burdens on tour operators, and integrate Central Asian tourism organizations into Russian digital booking systems. Additionally, joint participation in major tourism events is being promoted.

Russian authorities are also implementing measures to attract more foreign tourists. The Discover Russia program aims to promote the international tourism potential of Russian regions. Furthermore, a hotel certification system is being developed to adhere to Muslim-Friendly and Halal standards. Kerefov noted that a pool of joint tourism investment projects amounting to approximately $14 billion has been assembled.

Earlier statements by Russian Minister of Economic Development Maksim Reshetnikov indicated that significant changes are occurring in the tourism sectors of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations. These countries now offer high levels of comfort and safety for tourists, and Russians are always welcome. The absence of language barriers further benefits residents of Russia and other CIS nations.