Independent Arab tourists choose Moscow

According to research by Mosturism, there is a growing trend of self-organized trips from the Middle East to the Russian capital.

"According to Mosturism research, while group tours were popular a year ago, 69% of visitors from Qatar organized their trips to Moscow independently. High rates are also seen among tourists from Kuwait (54%) and Oman (55%)",

Mosturism reported.

Arab tourists rank among the top five nationalities by average spending in Moscow. According to guide and interpreter Abbud Rateb Idovich, they typically prefer hotels in the city center and shop at GUM.

"They typically stay in the historic National and Metropol hotels, the Four Seasons, and Radisson hotels. They actively shop, stroll around Okhotny Ryad and Red Square. They really enjoy sitting in the GUM cafes",

Idovich said.