BANGKOK, 14 January 2019: Russia is planning to introduce an electronic visa regime by 2021 in a bid to boost tourism, according to RBC media.
Five regions in Russia’s Far East currently offer free week-long eVisas for business and tourist travellers.
President Vladimir Putin has tasked the government to increase tourism revenue to USD15.5 billion by 2024.
Russia’s national Digital Economy Programme project calls for an eVisa service be rolled out nationwide by December 2021, the RBC news website reported last week.
The system is likely to be rolled out this October and introduced as a pilot project at limited border checkpoints first.
RBC did not specify the cost of the project, which will reportedly include automated border controls and electronic migration cards.
Responsibility for carrying out the e-visa project will be shared between the Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Ministry, the Transport Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB).
(Source: Moscow Times.)
