MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first half of 2026, Russia experienced a 20.1% growth in foreign visitors, reaching a total of 2.5 million, with China continuing to be the primary source of international travelers during this period. Chinese tourists accounted for over 22% of all foreign arrivals recorded in Russia. The Russian Ministry of Economic Development released these statistics at tourism conferences held in Shenyang, China. The data encompass foreign tourists staying at collective accommodation facilities nationwide.
Meanwhile, Russia’s domestic tourism sector also showed sustained expansion from January to June, with Rosstat reporting 43.2 million domestic trips during the first half of 2026, marking a 4.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Official figures indicate that inbound tourism experienced a faster annual growth rate during this period, though domestic and international travel statistics are gathered separately.
China remained the leading inbound market, with Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India also contributing sizable visitor numbers. During this period, international travelers explored destinations beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, with Russian officials highlighting cities like Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russia’s international air network maintained direct routes to 34 locations, including markets across Asia and the Middle East.
China retains its position as Russia’s top foreign visitor source
These latest statistics were discussed during the Greater Tumen Initiative meetings in Shenyang, where delegates also participated in a seminar on inbound tourism in Northeast Asia. The sessions focused on cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia, including the development of the historic Great Tea Road tourism route linking various regions. The Russian segment is planned to span roughly 20 areas across a broad swath of the country.
This route traverses the Russian Far East, Siberia, the Urals, and the Volga region, eventually connecting to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Discussions also addressed tourism links between the border cities of Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, along with other projects around Vladivostok and the Trans-Siberian Railway. The agenda further included scientific tourism near Lake Baikal and activities at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-free access bolsters Russia-China visitor numbers
Travel regulations between Russia and China have been eased to facilitate entry for eligible travelers, with Russia extending visa-free entry for qualifying Chinese citizens through Dec. 31, 2027. Similarly, China has maintained its visa-free policy for Russian citizens until the same date, allowing Russian passport holders to visit China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit under specified conditions.
Cross-border travel between the two nations had already increased prior to these latest figures, with Chinese data showing 154,200 Chinese tourists traveled to Russia in the first quarter of 2026—up 44% from the same period in 2025. Russia was also among the top sources of inbound visitors to China during the first half of the year. The current Russian tourism data confirms that China remains the largest foreign market for Russia, accounting for over 20% of all recorded international visitors.