MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first half of 2026, Russia welcomed a total of 2.5 million international tourists, marking a 20.1% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. China continued to be the primary source of these visitors, representing over 22% of all foreign arrivals. These latest statistics underscore the ongoing expansion of Russia’s inbound tourism sector from January through June. Nikita Kondratiev, a senior representative at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, shared these tourism figures during meetings held in Shenyang, China.
The data derive from official tourism reports that track foreign visitors utilizing collective accommodation facilities across Russia. Additionally, Rosstat figures revealed that Russians undertook 43.2 million domestic trips in the first half of 2026, representing a 4.3% rise compared to the same months in 2025. Consequently, inbound tourism growth outpaced domestic travel growth during this period, based on the separate official measures used for each sector.
During the first half of 2026, China maintained its position as the leading source country for foreign visitors to Russia. Tourists from Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India ranked as other notable markets. Beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, foreign travelers explored destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian officials also reported direct international air routes connecting 34 locations, including several in Asia and the Middle East.
China Takes Top Spot in Russia’s Tourist Influx
The recent tourism data was introduced during a Tourism Council gathering of the Greater Tumen Initiative in Shenyang. Attendees also took part in a seminar focused on inbound tourism initiatives in Northeast Asia. Discussions covered cross-border travel projects involving Russia, China, and Mongolia, including the progress on the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which has advanced to the implementation phase and is set to include approximately 20 Russian regions.
The Russian segment of the Great Tea Road will stretch from the Far East and Siberia through the Urals and Volga region, extending toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other key tourism initiatives discussed included connections between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as tourism growth around Vladivostok. The delegates also examined the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism linked with the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Arrangements Between Russia and China Broaden
As tourist flows increase, travel regulations between Russia and China have been updated. Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese nationals through Dec. 31, 2027, while China has similarly prolonged its visa-free policy for Russian citizens until the same date. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ordinary Russian passport holders can visit without a visa for stays up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit purposes.
The first-half figures reflect a broader trend of rising cross-border travel. Official Chinese data indicates that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 44% increase year-on-year. Russia was also the second most common source of inbound tourists for China during the first half of the year. These new Russian statistics establish China as Russia’s leading international visitor source, accounting for more than 20% of all recorded foreign guests.