21/11/2025
The State Duma comprehensively reviewed the development of tourism potential in Russia and Africa
On November 20, the expert council on developing partnerships with Africa under Deputy State Duma Speaker A.M. Babakov and the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development held a roundtable discussion on "Tourism Development and Sociocultural Cooperation with African Countries."
Nikolai Valuev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Tourism, delivered the opening remarks:
"Africa offers ecotourism, fishing, and hunting. Its unique nature finds many admirers. Russia, in turn, guarantees safety and travel assistance to citizens traveling legally. There have been no serious incidents with African countries."
Furthermore, as Yulia Berg, founder of the Globus association, noted, tourism development issues were comprehensively addressed from various perspectives during the discussion.
"Representatives from the tourism industry (hotels, travel companies), airlines, the Federal Air Transport Agency, universities, and business communities discussed not only traditional leisure tourism but also related sectors—business tourism, medical tourism, cultural tourism, and sports," she explained.
The expert added that high tourist flow is only possible in countries that, on the one hand, ensure safety and, on the other, offer a wide variety of possible activities and pursuits.
"The African continent, like Russia, has all the necessary resources: diverse natural landscapes and riches, a vast array of leisure options, and a constantly growing number of business events, which can also be combined with a rich cultural program," Berg emphasized. "Tourism, in a broad sense, is becoming an important driver of growth in related sectors and improved communication."