According to a report by Russian Satellite News Agency on September 22, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development announced that by the first half of 2026, the bilateral tourism flow between Russia and China will increase to 1.5 times the original level.
The Russian Ministry of Economic Development pointed out that thanks to the implementation of the visa-free policy between Russia and China, there has been an increase in tourist traffic in the first half of this year. Russia is creating high-quality reception conditions for Chinese tourists, including developing accommodation resources, tourist attractions, and products that are more suitable for Chinese tourists.
The department stated that more than 80 reception facilities in Russia, including hotels and airports, have obtained the "Friendly China" service system certification.
In September last year, China implemented a visa-free policy for Russians. Russian citizens with ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives, exchanges, or transit can enter without a visa for up to 30 days. In December of the same year, Russia adopted reciprocal measures, implementing a temporary visa-free policy for Chinese citizens.
In May of this year, China decided to extend the visa-free policy for Russians until December 31, 2027. In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order extending the visa-free policy for Chinese citizens in Russia until December 31, 2027.
