Malaysia is seeking to strengthen air connectivity and ease visa arrangements with Russia as part of efforts to increase tourist arrivals from the Russian market. The initiative was highlighted during a sales mission to St Petersburg and Moscow from September 27 to October 1, led by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing.
The mission included 15 representatives from hotels, travel agencies, tourism product operators, and state tourism boards. It featured B2B meetings and engagements with Russian travel trade partners. Tiong discussed reciprocal visa-free travel with Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov, and both sides identified visa facilitation as key to boosting two-way tourism.
Air connectivity was also a focus, with talks on potential direct flights between Malaysia and Russia. Tiong said improved connectivity would make Malaysia more accessible to Russian travelers. The discussions come as Malaysia aims to capture a larger share of the Russian outbound market, which saw 98,466 Russian tourists in the first eight months of 2026, up 4.3% year-on-year.
Tiong also explored opportunities in Russian regions beyond Moscow and St Petersburg, meeting with the Ural Tourism Association, which accounts for about 15% of Russia's outbound travelers. Additionally, Malaysia is considering three- to four-month winter tourism packages for Russian travelers, based on a suggestion from tour operator Fun & Sun Holidays. The ministry will examine permit requirements for seasonal interpreters and assess the long-stay segment's potential.
