MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first six months of 2026, Russia welcomed a total of 2.5 million international visitors, reflecting a 20.1% increase compared to the same period last year. China remained the leading source market, contributing over 22% of all foreign arrivals. These recent statistics underscore the upward trend in Russia’s inbound tourism for 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 based on official tourism data that track foreign visitors staying in collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Rosstat data also indicated that Russians made 43.2 million domestic trips during the first half of 2026, representing a 4.3% increase from the same period in 2025. Therefore, inbound tourism grew at a faster annual pace than domestic travel during this period, based on the separate official measures for each category.
China maintained its position as the top source of Russia’s foreign visitors during the first half of 2026. Other significant markets included travelers from Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, and India. Foreign tourists also explored beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, visiting locations like Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian officials have also reported direct international air routes connecting with 34 destinations, including several countries in Asia and the Middle East.
China Continues to Lead Russia’s Inbound Tourism Market
These latest tourism statistics were presented at a Tourism Council meeting of the Greater Tumen Initiative held in Shenyang. Participants also attended a seminar focused on inbound tourism in Northeast Asia, discussing cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia. One project under development is the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which has entered the implementation phase and is set to include approximately 20 Russian regions.
The Russian segment of the Great Tea Road will run from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga region, continuing toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Additional projects discussed included the links between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as tourism growth around Vladivostok. The meetings also covered the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism tied to the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Travel Agreements Widen Between Russia and China
As visitor numbers increase, travel regulations between Russia and China have also evolved. Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese citizens through Dec. 31, 2027, and China has similarly extended its visa-free policy for Russian citizens until that date. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that ordinary Russian passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit purposes.
The first-half tourism figures are part of a broader rise in cross-border travel between the two nations. Chinese official data reported that 154,200 Chinese tourists traveled to Russia in the first quarter of 2026, a 44% increase year-on-year. Russia was also the second most common source of inbound visitors from China during the first half. These new Russian statistics place China at the top of Russia’s international visitor market, accounting for more than one-fifth of all recorded foreign guests.