MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first six months of 2026, Russia welcomed 2.5 million international visitors, marking a 20.1% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The most significant source country remained China, which contributed over 22% of the foreign visitors. These latest statistics underscore 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 these tourism figures during meetings held in Shenyang, China.
The figures are derived from official tourism data covering foreign visitors staying in collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Rosstat data further indicated that Russians conducted 43.2 million domestic trips in the first half of 2026. This represented a growth of 4.3% compared to the same period in 2025. As a result, inbound tourism experienced a faster growth rate than domestic tourism during this timeframe, based on the separate official metrics used for each category.
China remained the primary source of foreign visitors to Russia in the first half of 2026. Tourists from Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India also ranked among the key source markets. Beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, foreign travelers visited destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian authorities have reported the establishment of direct international air routes connecting to 34 locations, including several countries in Asia and the Middle East.
China Continues to Lead Russia’s Inbound Tourism Market
The latest tourism data was presented during a Tourism Council meeting of the Greater Tumen Initiative held in Shenyang. Attendees also participated in a seminar focused on inbound tourism in Northeast Asia. Discussions covered cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia, notably the progress on the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which has now entered the implementation phase and is expected to encompass approximately 20 Russian regions.
The Russian segment of the Great Tea Road will stretch from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga region, ultimately leading to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other projects discussed included transportation links between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe and tourism initiatives around Vladivostok. Additional topics involved the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism connected with the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Travel Arrangements Strengthen Between Russia and China
As tourism between the two nations grows, travel regulations have been adjusted. Russia has extended visa-free entry for qualifying Chinese citizens through December 31, 2027, while China has similarly prolonged its visa-free policy for Russian nationals until the same date. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ordinary Russian passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit.
These first-half figures reflect a broader trend of increasing cross-border travel. Official Chinese data revealed that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 44% rise year-on-year. During the same period, Russia ranked second among China’s inbound tourist sources. The latest Russian statistics position China as the top foreign market for Russia’s international visitors, accounting for more than 20% of all recorded international arrivals.