MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first six months of 2026, Russia attracted 2.5 million international visitors, reflecting a 20.1% increase compared to the same period last year. China remained the leading source of foreign tourists, accounting for over 22% of all international arrivals. These latest statistics highlight the continued growth of Russia’s inbound tourism sector from January through June. During meetings in Shenyang, China, Nikita Kondratiev, a senior official at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, presented the tourism data.
The figures are based on official tourism statistics that track foreign visitors staying in collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Additionally, Rosstat data revealed that Russians conducted 43.2 million domestic trips during the first half of 2026, representing a 4.3% rise compared to the same period in 2025. Consequently, inbound tourism grew at a faster annual rate than domestic tourism, as measured separately for each category.
During the first half of 2026, China held the largest share of Russia’s foreign visitor market, followed by travelers from Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, and India. Visitors explored beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, heading to destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian authorities also reported direct international air routes connecting with 34 locations, including several countries across Asia and the Middle East.
China Leads Russia’s Foreign Tourist Market
These tourism figures were announced during a Tourism Council gathering of the Greater Tumen Initiative in Shenyang, where participants also attended a seminar focused on inbound tourism in Northeast Asia. Discussions included cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia, notably the progress on the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which is now moving into implementation and plans to encompass around 20 Russian regions.
The Russian segment of the Great Tea Road stretches from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga region, extending toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other projects featured at the meetings included development links between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as tourism growth around Vladivostok. Participants also discussed the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Lake Baikal region, and scientific tourism tied to the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Travel Expands with China
In response to rising visitor numbers, travel regulations between Russia and China have been adjusted. Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese nationals until Dec. 31, 2027, and China has similarly prolonged its visa-free policy for Russian citizens through the same date. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ordinary Russian passport holders can visit Russia without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
The first-half figures reflect a broader trend of increased cross-border travel between the two nations. Official Chinese data indicated that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, a 44% rise from the previous year. Russia ranked second among China’s inbound visitor sources during the first half, positioning China at the top of Russia’s international tourism market with over 20% of recorded international arrivals.