Lavrov, during a press conference with his Saudi colleague Feisal Bin Farhan in Moscow, expressed satisfaction of both sides in relation to noticeable acceleration in the rate of tourist exchange between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
He added: “The flow of tourists from Saudi Arabia to Russia last year increased by about 6 times compared to 2023, and the Russians are increasingly interested in Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination, since the number of flights to the kingdom reached more than 36 thousand flights last year.”
He continued: “I am sure that the strengthening of tourist exchange and communication between businessmen and citizens as a whole will be achieved thanks to the launch of a direct air line between the two countries in October next year, in addition to an agreement that will be completed to cancel the visa between the two countries.”
He also expressed gratitude to the authorities of Saudi Arabia for their support in the organization of Russian Muslim pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
It should be noted that Sherimettivo International Airport in Moscow added to its schedule of Saudi Arabia lines (national air transport) to ER -Riyad, where flights should begin between October 15 and 25 at a speed of 5 per week.
Currently, there are no regular flight flights between Russia and Saudi Arabia, while the Russian Ministry of Economic Development indicated that the delay in the launch line is due to instability in the Middle East and restrictions on air navigation in the region.
The Federal Air Transport Department of Rosavia announced today that it provided the Saudi Flyas airline permission to manage regular flights on the ER -Moskov line as of August 1.
Source: RT + “TAS” Agency
