MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first six months of 2026, Russia welcomed 2.5 million international tourists, marking a 20.1% increase compared to the previous year. China remained the top source market, making up more than 22% of all foreign visitors. These latest numbers highlight the upward trend in Russia’s inbound tourism from January to June. Nikita Kondratiev, a senior official at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, shared these tourism statistics during meetings held in Shenyang, China.
The figures are based on official tourism data that tracks foreign visitors staying in collective accommodation across Russia. Rosstat data also indicated that Russians completed 43.2 million domestic trips during the first half of 2026. This was a 4.3% rise from the same period in 2025. Overall, inbound tourism grew at a faster pace than domestic travel during this timeframe, according to official statistics for each category.
China continued to be the leading source of foreign visitors to Russia in the first half. Travelers from Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, and India were also significant contributors. Foreign tourists explored beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, visiting locations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Officials in Russia have reported direct international air links with 34 destinations, including several in Asia and the Middle East.
China remains Russia’s main inbound tourism market
The recent tourism data was presented at a Tourism Council meeting of the Greater Tumen Initiative in Shenyang. Attendees also participated in a seminar about inbound tourism in Northeast Asia. The discussion covered cross-border travel projects involving Russia, China, and Mongolia. A key project is the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which has entered its implementation phase. It is expected to include about 20 Russian regions.
The Russian portion of the Great Tea Road stretches from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga area. It continues toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other projects discussed included links between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as tourism development around Vladivostok. The delegates also examined the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism linked to the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-free arrangements grow between Russia and China
As visitor numbers increase, travel regulations between Russia and China have evolved. Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese citizens until Dec. 31, 2027. China has also extended its visa-free policy for Russian citizens to the same date. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ordinary Russian passports allow entry without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
The first-half figures reflect a broader rise in cross-border travel between the two nations. Chinese official data shows that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, a 44% increase from the previous year. Russia ranked second among China’s inbound visitor countries in the first half. These new Russian figures now position China as the top source in Russia’s international tourism market, accounting for more than one-fifth of all foreign visitors recorded.