MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – In the first six months of 2026, Russia welcomed 2.5 million international visitors, reflecting a 20.1% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. China remained the leading source of foreign tourists, accounting for over 22% of all inbound travelers. These latest statistics highlight the ongoing growth of Russia’s inbound tourism sector from January to June. The tourism figures were announced by Nikita Kondratiev, a senior official at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, during meetings held in Shenyang, China.
Official tourism data, which account for foreign visitors using collective accommodation facilities throughout Russia, underpin these figures. Additionally, Rosstat data indicated that Russians completed 43.2 million domestic trips in the first half of 2026. This marks a 4.3% growth compared to the same period in 2025. As a result, inbound tourism experienced a faster growth rate annually than domestic tourism, based on the separate official statistics for each category.
During the first half of the year, China maintained its position as the largest source of foreign visitors to Russia. Other major markets included travelers from Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, and India. Tourists also ventured beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg to destinations such as Murmansk, Vladivostok, and Kazan. Russian officials have reported direct international air connections to 34 destinations, encompassing several countries in Asia and the Middle East.
China Continues to Lead Russia’s International Visitor Numbers
The recent tourism data were shared during a Tourism Council session of the Greater Tumen Initiative held in Shenyang. Participants also attended a seminar dedicated to inbound tourism in Northeast Asia, which included discussions on cross-border travel initiatives involving Russia, China, and Mongolia. Among these projects was the development of the historic Great Tea Road tourism route, now in the implementation phase, with plans to incorporate roughly 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, continuing towards Moscow and St. Petersburg. Additional tourism projects mentioned during the meetings involved establishing links between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as fostering tourism growth around Vladivostok. The discussions also covered the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal, and scientific tourism connected with the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Visa-Free Travel Between Russia and China Expands
As the number of travelers from both countries rises, Russia has extended visa-free entry for eligible Chinese citizens until Dec. 31, 2027. Similarly, China has prolonged its visa-free policy for Russian citizens until the same date. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Russian passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit purposes.
The first-half figures reflect an overall increase in cross-border travel. Chinese official data revealed that 154,200 Chinese tourists visited Russia during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 44% rise compared to the previous year. Russia ranked second among China’s inbound source countries during this period. With the latest data, China now leads Russia’s foreign tourism market, contributing to more than one-fifth of all international visitors recorded in Russia.