The visa exemption deal between Russia and Israel will go into effect this fall.
The Tourism Ministry in Jerusalem announced Tuesday that, as of Oct. 1, Russians will no longer need a visa to visit Israel. A similar exemption will come into play for Israelis visiting Russia.
“Given the increased traffic from Russia during the past few months and the expectations and interest of large tourism wholesalers as a result of the new agreement, the number of tourists from Russia could double or even triple in the coming years,” the ministry said in a statement.
In 2007, Russia became the second-largest source of tourism for Israel.
