Memorandum Signed to Establish the BRICS Association of Enogastronomic Tourism

As part of the VI International Tourism Forum "Travel!" in Moscow, a five-party memorandum of cooperation was signed, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Association of Enogastronomic Tourism — the first international cross-sectoral platform within the BRICS space. The memorandum was signed by Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Ilya Umansky, President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry; Pyotr Efremov, Executive Director of the Russian Vinegrowers and Winemakers Association; Elena Zaritskaya, CEO of PJSC Abrau-Durso; and Elena Baturova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Management Board of JSC Rosselkhozbank.

Against the background of the transformation of the global economy and the strengthening of a multipolar world, the BRICS association is emerging as one of the key drivers of sustainable growth. As Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026, over the past five years, BRICS countries have accounted for almost half, 49%, of annual global GDP growth. At present, the full members of the intergovernmental association are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, as well as Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, which joined as part of its expansion. The expanded format is complemented by a group of partner countries interested in deepening trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties within the BRICS framework. The unique geographical composition of the association, encompassing some of the world’s major historical centers with a rich cultural heritage, creates an unprecedented platform for cross-sectoral synergy.

As integration processes deepen and mutual tourist flows among BRICS countries grow, enogastronomic tourism is becoming increasingly important. This line contributes to the development of regional and national brands and serves as a powerful economic catalyst for small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and wineries. It is precisely for this reason that the idea of establishing such an Association, first put forward by Russian representatives during Brazil’s BRICS chairmanship in 2025, generated interest among partner countries.

The establishment of the Association of Enogastronomic Tourism will enable market participants to take cooperation to a fundamentally new level while increasing the tourism appeal of BRICS countries. The primary objective of the new association will be to create a unified business, trade, and intellectual space for companies and organizations involved in the Association’s projects.

The memorandum sets out the key areas of activity for the Association. These include developing and strengthening cooperation with government and private-sector stakeholders in industrial markets across BRICS countries and partner states, as well as interaction with specialized international organizations.

The Association’s key instrument will be a unified digital platform. It will enable members of the organization to showcase and promote their products and services under a common BRICS brand, both in the markets of participating countries and beyond.

The Association is expected to comprise three sectoral areas: "Tourism and Hospitality", "Vine Growing and Winemaking", and "Gastronomy". Each area may include various working groups, committees, and other structures.

To promote the Association and actively engage international partners, an extensive series of business missions is planned for the second half of 2026. Delegations comprising the project’s initiators, representatives of federal and regional authorities, and relevant Russian business associations will visit China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and the UAE.

Companies and individuals engaged in enogastronomic tourism in BRICS countries, national and regional tourism authorities, wineries, restaurants, financial, insurance, consulting, and other service companies, educational, scientific, and public organizations in the tourism sector, hotels, resorts and historical sites, as well as media and bloggers, will be eligible to join the Association as members.

The establishment of the Association of Enogastronomic Tourism opens a new chapter in strengthening cultural and economic ties across the BRICS space while enhancing public diplomacy among participating countries.

Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation:

"The creation of a platform for cooperation in enogastronomic tourism is a promising impetus for further strengthening sectoral cooperation with BRICS countries. Mutual tourist flows between our countries are growing every year. People always aspire to learn more about the culture, traditions, and cuisine of foreign countries, especially those with which we have friendly relations. The establishment of the Association can fully meet this demand, creating a strong platform for open, trust-based dialogue and the exchange of data and best practices in developing the tourism and hospitality industry."

Ilya Umansky, President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry:

"Enogastronomic tourism is currently one of the fastest-growing sectors both in Russia and worldwide. It combines agritourism practices and event-based tourism, while also promoting national traditions. The Association opens a window of opportunity for creating cross-border routes and, most importantly, helps streamline the logistics of tourist flows. The potential is enormous: from international food festivals to jointly entering new markets under a unified BRICS brand."

Pyotr Efremov, Executive Director of the Russian Vinegrowers and Winemakers Association:

"The Russian Vinegrowers and Winemakers Association acts as a consolidated representative of the industry in our country, so our participation in the BRICS Association of Enogastronomic Tourism is a natural step. This decision opens up prospects for sustainable and systematic development of international cooperation. For our part, the RVWA is ready to facilitate industry cooperation, including with relevant national associations and organizations, as well as the development of scientific and trade cooperation. The development of an open and competitive market is particularly important. It is within this framework that we initiated the BRICS Wine Summit and Competition as a new instrument for industry cooperation."

Elena Zaritskaya, CEO of PJSC Abrau-Durso:

"For Abrau-Durso, the establishment of the BRICS Association of Enogastronomic Tourism is not simply a formal step, but a strategic initiative that we have put forward with a clear understanding of our responsibility to the industry. We are leaders in enogastronomic tourism in Russia and, based on our own experience, understand that wine, cuisine, and hospitality are universal languages that transcend borders. However, developing wine tourism culture in a truly deep and systematic way is difficult to achieve alone, including within a single country. By bringing together key players from BRICS countries, we can harmonize standards, create cross-border tourist routes, and jointly address common challenges related to promoting enogastronomic tourism attractions and entering new markets."

Elena Baturova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Management Board of JSC Rosselkhozbank:

"For Rosselkhozbank, the development of winemaking, wine tourism, and gastronomic tourism is an important part of an ecosystem-based approach to the development of rural areas and regional economies. Over the past several years, we have accumulated significant experience in this field: the "Svoyo Za Gorodom" platform offers tourist routes and attractions across the country, and the "Svoyo Vino" project introduces millions of users to Russian winemaking, wine regions, and wine culture. The establishment of the BRICS Tourism Industry Association opens up new opportunities for international cooperation. We are ready to share our accumulated expertise in developing digital tourism services, as well as introduce Russian audiences to the wine, gastronomic, and tourism routes of participating countries. We are confident that this exchange of experience will help increase interest in travel between BRICS countries and create new growth opportunities for regional tourism."