The Russian government has outlined an optimistic forecast for inbound tourism from China, projecting around 360 thousand visitors from China to Russia by the end of 2023. This projection was communicated by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and was reported by TASS, Russia’s major state news agency. The government’s planning documents and public statements emphasize a steady rebound in travel between the two countries after the easing of pandemic-era restrictions, with authorities closely monitoring visa arrangements, flight connectivity, and tourism infrastructure to support the anticipated growth.
In parallel, official circles expect a reciprocal boost in travel from Russians to China, with a target of up to 470 thousand Russian travelers visiting Chinese destinations. This bilateral mobility is framed within broader efforts to revive cultural, educational, and business exchanges, as well as to stimulate regional tourism hubs that can benefit from increased visitation. The authorities have highlighted the importance of two-way tourism as a driver of economic activity and people-to-people ties, underscoring the role of robust visa regimes, streamlined travel processes, and coordinated marketing campaigns to attract more travelers from both sides.
Historically, the pace of travel between Russia and China has fluctuated in line with public health measures and regulatory changes. Chernyshenko noted that during 2022, when epidemiological restrictions were in force, the number of entrants from China into Russia was limited to about 29.7 thousand, while 17.4 thousand Russian tourists crossed into China. As restrictions tightened and subsequently eased in 2023, there was a notable uptick in cross-border movement. In the first half of 2023, after many controls were lifted, the number of visitors from China to Russia reached 139.4 thousand, and 175 thousand Russians traveled to China. These figures illustrate the pent-up demand for international travel and the resilience of the travel sector as borders reopened and consumer confidence gradually returned.
In the realm of domestic tourism policy, Natalya Kostenko, who serves as deputy chair of the State Duma Tourism Committee, spoke in early October about the need to broaden tourism cooperation with friendly states. Her remarks reflect a policy emphasis on diversifying Russia’s tourism markets, expanding collaborative marketing initiatives, and exploring new routes and product offerings that can attract longer stays and higher-spending visitors. Strengthening tourism partnerships with key markets, including China, is viewed as a strategic lever to stimulate regional development and to showcase Russia’s diverse landscapes, cities, and cultural heritage to a wider audience.
Beyond cross-border travel numbers, recent industry data in Russia highlighted popular winter destinations among domestic travelers. Travel agencies and aggregators have reported that, within the Russian market, Thailand held the top spot as the most aspirational winter getaway, according to Travelata.ru. The portal noted an average winter-trip expenditure of roughly 281 thousand rubles, underscoring the strong demand for international itineraries among the domestic traveler base during the winter season. This trend has implications for travel planning, price sensitivity, and the need for competitive offerings across diverse regions and budgets, particularly as travelers seek value alongside memorable experiences.
On the policy front, several regional authorities have signaled a move to ease entry requirements for international visitors. Recently, Sri Lankan authorities announced the elimination of visa fees for citizens from Russia, China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, a decision aimed at stimulating tourism flows and enhancing Sri Lanka’s appeal as a regional travel hub. Such measures exemplify how visa policies and fee structures can influence travelers’ destination choices and how countries in the region compete for leisure and business travelers. In the broader context, this dynamic underscores the importance of predictable and traveler-friendly policies as part of a competitive tourism strategy for destinations across Eurasia and beyond, including markets in North America that look for easy, transparent visa and entry procedures when planning international trips.