In 2017, visa-free tourist arrivals from China to our country increased by 231,000, reaching 944,000. Thus, over the course of five years, visa-free tourist arrivals from China increased 2.5-fold: from 372,000 in 2013 to 944,000 in 2017 (according to the World Without Borders Association).
The steady growth of inbound tourism from China to Russia is driven by the friendly relations between the two countries, the significant interest of Chinese citizens in Russian culture, the diverse leisure and travel opportunities, and the safety and comfortable conditions available to Chinese tourists in our country. As part of the China Friendly program, the Russian Hospitality program is adapting tourism services to meet the needs and expectations of Chinese visitors. Over 100 Russian hospitality industry and transport infrastructure facilities have already joined the project.
According to the World Without Borders Tourism Association, the most popular routes for Chinese tourists within the visa-free travel program include Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as cross-border trips. Both capitals receive approximately 52,000 visa-free inbound tourists from China, while border regions receive 39,000. A significant increase in Chinese tourist arrivals was observed in Siberia: in the Irkutsk Region, by 21,000 (to 53,000), and in the Novosibirsk Region, by 24,000 (to 25,000). Overall, according to World Without Borders, border regions received approximately 370,000 tourists from China, an increase of 14,000 compared to last year. Recreational opportunities in Primorsky Krai attracted approximately 213 thousand tourists from China (+11%), Amur Oblast was visited by 94 thousand (+19%) visa-free Chinese tourists, and Zabaikalsky Krai by 36 thousand (+12%) tourists.
The flow of Russians to China has also increased, with the majority of visa-free group trips coming from residents of Russia's border regions. In 2017, 415,000 Russians (+201,000) traveled to China as part of organized tour groups via the visa-free route, including 402,000 residents of border regions. Primorsky Krai was the clear leader in outbound tourist flow via visa-free travel, with 203,000 (+211,000). Tour operators in Zabaykalsky Krai recorded a 50% increase in tourist flow (134,000 tourists).
"China is our strategic partner in tourism and the leader in inbound tourism to the Russian Federation. The total number of trips by Chinese citizens to our country has increased more than 3.5-fold since 2012, reaching 1.3 million in 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, this figure reached 1.24 million trips. We are placing great emphasis on creating comfortable travel conditions for Chinese citizens within our country. We are developing special routes and programs for them, adapting our tourist services, and training Chinese-speaking tourism specialists," says Oleg Safonov, Head of the Federal Tourism Agency.
Experts from both countries will discuss the development of Russian-Chinese tourism at the 6th Russian-Chinese Tourism Forum, which will be held in Moscow from March 11 to 12, 2018.
Source: trn-news.ru