MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – During the first half of 2026, Russia welcomed 2.5 million international travelers, reflecting a 20.1% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. China continued to dominate as the leading source market, contributing over 22% of all foreign arrivals. These latest statistics underscore the upward trend in Russia’s inbound tourism from January through June. Nikita Kondratiev, a senior representative at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, shared the tourism data during meetings held in Shenyang, China.
The figures are based on official tourism data that record foreign visitors staying in collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Rosstat data also indicated that Russians completed 43.2 million domestic trips in the first six months of 2026. This represented a growth of 4.3% compared to the same period in 2025. Consequently, inbound tourism experienced a faster growth rate annually than domestic tourism during this period, according to separate official metrics for each category.
China maintained its position as the largest source of foreign visitors to Russia in the first half of 2026. Other significant source markets included travelers from Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, and India. International tourists also ventured beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg to destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Additionally, Russian officials reported the existence of direct international air links connecting 34 destinations, including several in Asia and the Middle East.
China’s Role as Russia’s Top Visitor Source
The tourism data were presented at a Tourism Council meeting of the Greater Tumen Initiative 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, including the development of 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 is planned to stretch from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga regions, extending toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other tourism initiatives highlighted in the meetings included connectivity projects such as links between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, tourism development efforts around Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Lake Baikal region, and scientific tourism related to the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Expansion of Visa-Free Travel between Russia and China
As visitor numbers grow, travel regulations between Russia and China have been modified. Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese nationals through Dec. 31, 2027, while China has reciprocated with a similar extension for Russian citizens. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that ordinary Russian passport holders are permitted to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit purposes.
These first-half figures align with a broader upward trend in cross-border movement. Official Chinese data revealed that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 44% increase year on year. Russia ranked second among China’s sources of inbound travelers during this period. The latest figures position China as Russia’s leading foreign visitor market, accounting for more than 20% of all international arrivals recorded.