Russia and China Keep Group Visa-Free Tourist Exchange, With Officials Monitoring the System
The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has indicated that there is no current plan to scrap visas entirely between Russia and China. This update was provided by Nikita Kondratyev, who heads the department for multilateral economic cooperation and special projects within the ministry. The remark was reported by TASS, the Russian news agency.
According to Kondratyev, the existing framework for group visa-free tourist exchanges remains adequate to support the free movement of travelers between the two nations. He emphasized that the present arrangement continues to allow Chinese and Russian citizens to travel without the burden of individual visa applications, and that the regime essentially functions as a visa-free system.
He explained that the visa-free group exchange makes it easier to monitor tourist flows, understand traveler inquiries and challenges, and observe which attractions visitors prefer. This approach helps authorities gather practical insights into travel patterns and traveler needs, which in turn can inform policy and service improvements for tourism stakeholders on both sides.
Earlier discussions had already touched on broader visa policy topics, including the possibility of extending visa-free or simplified entry arrangements with Gulf Cooperation Council countries. While Russia has considered various options to facilitate international travel for its citizens, the current stance toward China remains focused on maintaining the effective group visa-free mechanism already in place.
Looking ahead, observers in the travel and business communities note that the continued operation of a flexible visa-free regime could support mutual tourism growth, bolster people-to-people exchanges, and encourage broader commercial collaboration between Russia and China. Officials suggest that ongoing analysis will continue to track the mechanism’s performance, traveler satisfaction, and any emerging challenges, ensuring that the system remains responsive to the needs of both countries’ travelers. In this context, the focus remains on practical outcomes—faster entry, smoother group travel, and clearer pathways for tourism development—rather than a wholesale overhaul of visa policies. [Source attribution: TASS]