Russian Outbound Tourism Sees Strong Growth; Visa-free Travel Deal With China Poised To Alter Trends In 2025

Published on September 8, 2025

Russian outbound tourism surged by 15.4% successful 2024, pinch 17.4 cardinal trips taken by Russians, arsenic reported by nan Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR). Despite nan important emergence successful numbers, Turkey continues to lead arsenic nan astir celebrated destination, accounting for 38.5% of each Russian outbound travel. However, a caller visa-free recreation statement betwixt Russia and China, announced during nan Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, is group to displacement nan tourism landscape. Starting from September 15, 2025, Russian citizens tin sojourn China for up to 30 days without nan request for a visa. This argumentation alteration is expected to dramatically power Russian recreation patterns, particularly successful nan short term, arsenic China becomes a overmuch much accessible destination for Russian tourists.

Surge successful Russian Travel to China Expected

The preamble of nan visa-free recreation authorities betwixt Russia and China marks a important milestone successful nan narration betwixt nan 2 countries, peculiarly successful tourism. Experts foretell that this statement will lead to a 30-40% summation successful Russian visitors visiting China. China’s taste richness and large-scale investments successful infrastructure person made it an charismatic destination for galore Russian travelers. The increasing easiness of access, coupled pinch nan historical agreement, is expected to make China a much viable action for Russian tourists, placing it connected par pinch much accepted vacation destinations for illustration Turkey and nan UAE.

Currently, nan UAE holds nan second-largest stock of Russian outbound travel, pinch 11.4% of each Russian trips, followed intimately by China, which accounted for 10.9%. While Turkey remains a favourite destination for Russians, partially owed to its affordable offerings and nan well-established edifice infrastructure, nan emergence of China arsenic a tourism destination could situation Turkey’s starring position successful nan coming years.

Turkey Retains Top Spot Despite Emerging Competition

Despite nan maturation of outbound tourism to China, Turkey continues to predominate arsenic nan astir preferred destination for Russian tourists. In 2024, Russian visitors to Turkey reached 6.7 million, reflecting a 6.3% emergence from nan erstwhile year. Turkey benefits from respective factors, including its visa-free introduction argumentation for Russian citizens and its competitory pricing. Its long-standing entreaty to Russian tourists, peculiarly successful regions specified arsenic Istanbul, Antalya, and Cappadocia, is not easy overtaken. However, arsenic much Russians see China arsenic an accessible destination, Turkey’s position arsenic nan leader successful Russian outbound recreation whitethorn beryllium astatine risk.

Tourism experts expect that China’s stock of Russian tourism could acquisition a important increase, pinch immoderate projections suggesting that it could yet rival Turkey, Thailand, and Egypt arsenic a starring destination. This displacement will apt lead to changes successful location recreation dynamics, arsenic Russian visitors statesman to research a broader scope of destinations wrong China, including its humanities sites, earthy wonders, and municipality centers.

A Changing Landscape for Russian Tourism

The visa-free woody betwixt Russia and China has nan imaginable to reshape nan scenery of Russian outbound travel. The simplicity and convenience of visa-free recreation to China will promote much Russians to sojourn nan state for shorter holidays, taste exchanges, aliases business purposes. This improvement is besides expected to boost location practice betwixt Russia and China successful nan tourism sector. New formation routes, accrued circuit packages, and enhanced trading efforts are already being planned to accommodate nan anticipated surge successful Russian visitors to China.

Additionally, nan increasing title from China whitethorn punctual different destinations traditionally celebrated pinch Russian tourists, specified arsenic Thailand and Egypt, to rethink their strategies and connection much tailored experiences to pull this important tourer demographic.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Russian Tourism

With nan expected emergence successful tourism flows from Russia to China, nan broader Eurasian tourism marketplace will spot a rebalancing. As much Russians activity to research China’s divers offerings, including taste practice sites, mountains, and modern cities, China will gradually go an basal portion of Russia’s outbound recreation scene. The humanities value of this visa-free statement underscores nan increasing value of China arsenic a cardinal subordinate successful world tourism.

While Turkey whitethorn proceed to bask a beardown beingness successful nan Russian tourism market, nan emerging title from China will undoubtedly style early trends, creating caller opportunities for some countries to heighten their tourism infrastructure and offerings.

This displacement successful recreation preferences is suggestive of nan broader inclination of post-pandemic tourism recovery, pinch destinations crossed Asia and nan Middle East adapting to nan evolving recreation demands of Russian tourists. The preamble of nan visa-free authorities has already spurred accrued practice betwixt Russian and Chinese circuit operators, signaling a caller era of tourism collaboration.