MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Russia welcomed 2.5 million international travelers in the first half of 2026, representing a 20.1% increase compared to the previous year. China continued to be the leading source market, contributing over 22% of all foreign visitors. These latest statistics highlight the ongoing growth of Russia’s inbound tourism from January to June. Nikita Kondratiev, a senior official 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 covers foreign tourists staying in collective accommodations across Russia. Rosstat also reported that Russians completed 43.2 million domestic trips in the first half of 2026. This marked a 4.3% rise compared to the same period in 2025. Consequently, inbound tourism grew at a faster pace annually than domestic trips, according to separate official statistics for each category.
China remained the largest source of foreign visitors to Russia in the first half. Travelers from Persian Gulf nations, Turkey, and India also ranked among the key markets. Tourists ventured beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg to places like Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian officials have reported direct international flights to 34 destinations, including several countries in Asia and the Middle East.
China Dominates Russia’s Foreign Tourism Market
These tourism figures were shared during 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 included cross-border travel projects involving Russia, China, and Mongolia. One project is the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, which has entered the implementation phase. It is planned to cover about 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. It will extend toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. Other projects discussed included connections between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe and tourism development around Vladivostok. The delegates also examined the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism linked to the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa policies between Russia and China See Further Easing
Travel regulations between Russia and China have evolved as visitor numbers grow. Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese citizens until Dec. 31, 2027. China has extended its visa-free policy for Russian citizens to the same date. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ordinary Russian passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
The first-half figures reflect a broader increase in cross-border travel. Chinese official data showed that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first quarter of 2026, a 44% rise year on year. Russia was also the second most common source of inbound visitors for China during this period. The new Russian statistics place China at the top of Russia’s foreign tourism market, with over 20% of all international visitors recorded.