Tatyana Dovgalenko, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Partnership with Africa, highlighted the potential benefits of expanding visa-free travel during a roundtable at the Russian State Duma focused on tourism and cultural exchange. “Introducing visa-free travel with the majority of African countries would help develop tourism,” she said. “Today, Angola, Botswana, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Tunisia, and South Africa have visa-free arrangements. We are actively working with other African countries and hope this list will expand soon. Additionally, we are negotiating agreements and memoranda to support tourism, which we hope to sign in the near term.”
Dovgalenko also emphasized the existing imbalance in Russia’s engagement with African tourism. North Africa remains the dominant destination for Russian travelers, with Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia leading the way. She noted that in 2024, around 1.5 million Russian citizens visited Egypt, accounting for roughly 15% of the country’s tourism revenue—a number surpassed only by Germany in terms of visitor volume.
“In contrast, countries south of the Sahara lag significantly behind in tourist flows from Russia,” Dovgalenko said. “This geographical imbalance presents an opportunity for creative solutions to attract more Russian tourists to these regions.”
She further pointed out that the limited number of direct flights between Russia and many African countries remains a barrier. “Currently, we have regular and charter flights only to Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Seychelles,” she explained. “We aim to expand air connectivity to additional destinations to facilitate travel and enhance tourism cooperation.”
Expanding visa-free access and increasing direct flights could open new opportunities for both beach and safari tourism. While many African destinations already boast high-quality facilities, Dovgalenko noted that efforts to accommodate Russian travelers—including familiarity with the Russian language and cultural preferences—could further boost the appeal of these markets.
By removing visa restrictions and addressing logistical challenges, Russia hopes to diversify its African tourism portfolio and deepen economic and cultural partnerships across the continent.