MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first six months of 2026, Russia welcomed 2.5 million foreign tourists, representing a 20.1% increase compared to the same period last year. China continued to be the leading source market, contributing over 22% of all international visitors. These recent figures highlight the upward trend in Russia’s inbound tourism from January through June. Nikita Kondratiev, a senior official at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, shared the tourism data during meetings held in Shenyang, China.
The data derive from official statistics on foreign visitors utilizing collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Additionally, Rosstat figures reveal that Russians undertook 43.2 million domestic trips in the first half of 2026, a 4.3% rise from the same period in 2025. Thus, inbound tourism experienced a faster growth rate annually compared to domestic travel, based on the separate official metrics used for each sector.
During the first half of 2026, China maintained its position as the dominant source market for Russia’s international visitors. Other significant origin countries included travelers from Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India. Tourists also extended their journeys beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg to destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian officials have reported the existence of direct international flights connecting to 34 destinations, including several in Asia and the Middle East.
China Continues to Lead Russia’s Foreign Visitor Market
These tourism statistics were introduced during a Tourism Council session of the Greater Tumen Initiative in Shenyang. Attendees also participated in a seminar focused on inbound tourism in Northeast Asia, where cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia were discussed. A key project was the development of the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which has now entered the implementation phase and is expected to encompass roughly 20 Russian regions.
The Russian segment of the Great Tea Road will traverse areas from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga region, extending toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other tourism initiatives highlighted included connections between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, along with efforts to promote tourism around Vladivostok. The discussions also covered the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism linked to the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Travel Agreement Broadens Between Russia and China
As visitor numbers increase, travel regulations between Russia and China have been modified. Russia has extended visa-free access for qualifying Chinese nationals until Dec. 31, 2027, while China has reciprocally prolonged its visa-free policy for Russian citizens to the same date. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that holders of ordinary Russian passports can stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit purposes.
The first half of 2026 reflects a broader surge in cross-border travel between the two nations. Official Chinese statistics indicate that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, a 44% increase year-over-year. Russia was also the second most common source of inbound visitors for China during the same period. The latest figures for Russia’s inbound tourism market show that China now ranks first, accounting for more than one-fifth of all international arrivals recorded.