St. Petersburg was presented at the OTM 2025 exhibition, which took place from 30 January to 1 February in Mumbai (India); here the current tourist offers were presented in detail. On the first day of the exhibition, after the opening ceremony, the stand of the city was visited by the Minister of Tourism and Culture of India, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. He noted the warm friendly relations between Russia and India and the great potential for the development of further partnership and also shared his good impressions of his trip to St. Petersburg, which he made several years ago.
Minister of Tourism and Culture of India, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visits the stand
Saint Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, recognized as an international tourist centre. In 2024, 11.6 million travellers have expressed a desire to see its unique historical centre which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and experience the enchanting atmosphere of the city. Visitors are captivated by the grand ensemble of palaces and parks, majestic cathedrals and monuments, the wealth of museums, and the vibrant cultural life.
However, the wide range of travelling opportunities in St. Petersburg does not end there. Every year, the city offers fresh excursion routes that reveal the modern image of the metropolis with its creative spaces for new tourists and cultural geography. Along with this, original types of tourism are actively developing in St. Petersburg. Travellers can visit an unusual tour of industrial facilities, spend a weekend at a health resort, or make new gastronomic discoveries.
St. Petersburg can also be an ideal starting point for exploring other regions of Russia. The project ‘Two Cities: A Million Impressions’ will help to create an unusual and eventful route with visits to St. Petersburg and Moscow. And for those who want to discover the beauty of the harsh northern nature and the wealth of history and culture, travelling to the regions of ‘The Silver Necklace of Russia’ is a great option.
Another reason to visit St. Petersburg may be a wedding celebration. Every year thousands of couples who have decided to start a family arrange their wedding holidays in the romantic atmosphere of the city on the Neva. Newlyweds are attracted by luxurious wedding palaces, magnificent architecture, beautiful hotels, restaurants with excellent cuisine, and high-quality celebration services.
For event organisers, the city offers unique exhibition and congress venues, hotels of different formats and categories, well-developed transport links, and numerous excursion programmes. Every year, the northern capital of Russia hosts hundreds of different business forums, including such large-scale international events as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, and the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum. In addition, St. Petersburg has extensive experience in organising international rotating events. For example, in 2021 the city became the capital of modern astronautics, hosting delegates of the International Conference on Space Exploration GLEX from more than 59 countries.
Much attention is paid to service in St. Petersburg. The city companies take into account the peculiarities of the national cultural traditions of travellers, including visitors from India. Guests will be pleasantly surprised by a wide range of hotels of different star ratings, comfort levels, and price policies, as well as a variety of restaurants, many of which are firmly established in the top lists of domestic and international ratings. Citizens of India and other 54 countries can obtain an electronic visa for travelling to Russia.