The tourist flow from Russia to China has already increased significantly after the introduction of the visa-free regime and, according to the forecast of Alexey Volkov, president of the National Union of the Hospitality Industry, it may increase by another 30% in 2026. According to him, demand has been growing for the third year in a row: by the end of this year, the number of trips may reach 1 million, and interest in the destination is generated due to the ease of entry and the desire of Russians to open a new destination.
There is a particularly noticeable demand for travel to China during the New Year holidays. Volkov noted that the tourist activity came as a surprise to the industry, as Chinese destinations began to compete with popular Russian regions. According to him, New Year's tours allow you to see the traditions of the country, get acquainted with the local culture and spend the holidays in an unusual atmosphere.
In addition to China, Russians are also interested in other Asian countries, primarily those where they can spend their winter holidays in a warm climate. At the same time, attention is growing to the Russian Far East: the Khabarovsk Territory, the Amur Region and Primorye. Against the background of expanding cooperation with China and the growth of imports, Volkov notes the formation of a steady trend towards the development of the Far Eastern direction and the development of domestic tourism.
