MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Russia experienced a 20.1% rise in foreign tourist arrivals during the first half of 2026, reaching a total of 2.5 million visitors. Among these, China remained the top source country, with Chinese travelers making up over 22% of all international visitors recorded in Russia. These figures were presented by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development at tourism-focused meetings held in Shenyang, China. The data encompasses foreign tourists staying in collective accommodation across the nation.
Domestic tourism also continued its upward trajectory from January through June. According to Rosstat, Russia registered 43.2 million trips by domestic tourists in the first half of 2026. This marked a 4.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Official statistics reveal that inbound tourism experienced a faster annual growth during this period, although separate metrics are used for domestic and international travel.
China led the inbound visitor market, with significant numbers also coming from Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India. During the first half of the year, international tourists traveled beyond the major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, with Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan highlighted by Russian officials. Russia maintained direct international air routes to 34 destinations, including markets across Asia and the Middle East.
China Sustains Its Position as Russia’s Leading International Tourism Market
These latest statistics were shared during tourism discussions under the Greater Tumen Initiative in Shenyang. Delegates also engaged in a seminar focused on inbound tourism in Northeast Asia, exploring cross-border projects involving Russia, China, and Mongolia. A key topic was the development of the historic Great Tea Road, a tourism route connecting several regions, with plans to include around 20 Russian regions across a broad geographic area.
The proposed route spans areas in Russia’s Far East, Siberia, the Urals, and the Volga region, before extending toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Discussions on regional tourism also included cooperation between border cities such as Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as development initiatives around Vladivostok and connections via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Additionally, Lake Baikal and scientific tourism near the Vostochny Cosmodrome were part of the regional tourism agenda.
Visa-Free Travel Enhances Russia-China Tourist Exchanges
Travel regulations between Russia and China have been relaxed to facilitate easier movement for eligible travelers. Russia extended its visa-free policy for qualifying Chinese nationals through Dec. 31, 2027, while China reciprocated by extending its visa-free arrangement for Russian citizens until the same date. Eligible Russian travelers can visit China without a visa for up to 30 days, including tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit under these entry conditions.
Pre-existing trends in cross-border travel between the two countries already showed increases before the latest half-year figures. Chinese data indicated that 154,200 tourists traveled from China to Russia in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 44% growth compared to the same period in 2025. Russia also ranked among the top sources of inbound visitors to China during the first half of 2026. The latest figures from Russia confirm that China continues to be the largest foreign visitor market, accounting for more than 20% of all recorded international arrivals.