From 11 to 13 March, Moscow hosted the 32nd International Travel and Hospitality Show, MITT 2026, one of the key events in the global tourism industry.
This year, more than 900 companies participated in the exhibition, with visitor numbers reaching 14,800. A total of 40 countries, along with most Russian regions, showcased their tourism potential.
International participants included Oman, Egypt, China, Turkey, Malaysia, the Maldives, Cuba, Venezuela, Tunisia, Algeria, Uganda and Namibia, alongside other representatives from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The exhibition brought together national tourism boards, regional administrations, tour operators, hotel chains, MICE operators and travel tech companies. Together, they presented a wide range of tourism offerings, from mass beach holidays to niche segments such as healthcare, gastronomy and ecotourism.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, addressed participants, organisers and guests, highlighting MITT as a key platform for sharing expertise, building partnerships and unlocking new opportunities for tourism development. He noted that Russia aims to create a favourable environment for tourism growth, improve infrastructure and enhance service quality.
Mokhmad Akhmadov, Senator of the Federation Council, emphasised the importance of the exhibition in addressing key industry challenges and strengthening the socio economic potential of regions.
Sangadzhi Tarbaev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development, added that MITT has become an integral part of the tourism ecosystem, bringing together businesses, government authorities and non governmental organisations.
The opening ceremony welcomed representatives of diplomatic missions and international tourism organisations, including delegates from Oman, Egypt, Malaysia and Cuba. Foreign participants highlighted the importance of the Russian market and the strong potential for expanding tourism cooperation.
International participation at MITT 2026 was among the strongest in recent years, covering a broad spectrum of tourism products, including beach destinations, wellness tourism, gastronomy experiences and MICE offerings.
A significant part of the exhibition was dedicated to Russian regions, presenting a diverse mix of cultural, educational and nature based tourism. Visitors explored destinations such as Murmansk, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Dagestan and Saint Petersburg.
The MITT 2026 business programme also set a new record, with over 4,300 attendees participating in more than 40 events across six platforms.
Discussions focused on major industry developments, particularly digital transformation, infrastructure investment and evolving travel formats.
During the opening session, industry leaders noted that the sector is entering a new stage of maturity. Key trends included earlier booking patterns, with 20 percent of summer 2026 already sold, and a growing shift in consumer focus from price to quality and safety.
Additional themes included increasing inbound tourism from China, Saudi Arabia and India, as well as rising competition between hotels and online booking platforms.
Research presented at the exhibition highlighted mixed market sentiment. While 37 percent of respondents reported a decline in demand, around half expect positive developments. The average stay for inbound tourists is between 5 and 10 nights, with typical spending ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles per trip.
Key challenges remain, particularly in transport connectivity and international payment systems.
On the second day, the session “Discover Your Russia: Development of Inbound Tourism” explored strategies to promote the country internationally, including a national tourism brand now covering 60 regions under a unified identity system.