MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Russia welcomed a total of 2.5 million international tourists during the first six months of 2026, reflecting a 20.1% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. China remained the leading source of visitors, representing over 22% of all foreign arrivals. These latest statistics highlight the ongoing growth in Russia’s inbound tourism sector from 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 data are derived from official tourism reports that track foreign visitors utilizing collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Rosstat reports also indicated that Russians completed 43.2 million domestic trips in the first half of 2026, representing a 4.3% growth compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Consequently, inbound tourism grew at a faster rate annually than domestic tourism, based on the separate official metrics used for each category.
During the first half of the year, China maintained its position as the top source market for Russia’s foreign visitors. Other significant origins included travelers from Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India. Tourists also explored beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, heading to destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian authorities have reported established direct international air routes connecting to 34 destinations, including several countries across Asia and the Middle East.
China Continues to Lead Russia’s International Tourism Market
These recent tourism statistics were unveiled during a Tourism Council session of the Greater Tumen Initiative in Shenyang. Delegates also participated in a seminar dedicated to inbound tourism in Northeast Asia. The discussions focused on cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia, including progress on 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 region, ultimately reaching Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other tourism projects featured during the meetings included the development of routes between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as tourism growth around Vladivostok. Participants also examined the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism associated with the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Travel Expands Between Russia and China
With 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, while 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 enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
The first-half tourism figures reflect a broader trend of increasing cross-border travel between the two nations. Official Chinese data reveal that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 44% year-over-year rise. Russia also ranked second among China’s inbound visitor source countries during the first half. These new Russian figures position China at the top of Russia’s foreign tourism market, accounting for more than one-fifth of all recorded international visitors.