Visa-free travel boosts Chinese interest in Russia for National Day
Visa-free travel talks between Beijing and Moscow boost demand for flights and hotels as the holiday approaches
Interest from Chinese tourists in visiting Russia is on the rise as the weeklong National Day break approaches, with potential visa-free travel on the horizon.
Online travel agency Tongcheng Travel reported a significant increase in searches for Russian hotels and flights, rising more than sixfold on Friday, September 5, following reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Chinese travellers might soon enjoy visa-free visits.
This proposal comes after Beijing’s announcement that Russian citizens can stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days starting September 15. During the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin expressed that Russia would reciprocate this gesture, calling it a kind act from China’s leadership.
Previously, Russian citizens could remain in mainland China for up to 10 days visa-free when transiting to a third country, a policy implemented in late 2023 as part of China’s efforts to attract foreign visitors. The two nations also reinstated their visa-free policy for group tours after China lifted nearly three years of strict Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel demand surges ahead of Golden Week
Travel platform Qunar noted that the most recent inquiries about Russia were for journeys from Beijing to Moscow, with searches for flights to St Petersburg tripling from the previous week.
Yicai, a business news site, quoted Qunar, highlighting Russia as a popular summer destination for Chinese tourists. The anticipated visa-free policy is expected to boost travel to Russia during the upcoming National Day holiday, which spans eight days from October 1 and is one of China’s “Golden Weeks.”
China’s decision to expand the visa-free policy for Russians follows recent meetings between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Putin was in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin and the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II defeat.
Tourism between China and Russia has seen significant growth recently. According to the Chinese embassy in Moscow, Chinese tourists made 1.04 million trips to Russia in 2024, either as their first stop or primary destination, reflecting a 209.3% increase from the previous year.
Over the same period, 1.5 million Russian tourists visited mainland China, marking a 115.1% rise from 2023.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
