"China can replace Türkiye and Egypt in Russia"

Svetlana Jurova stated that China 's diverse climate zones, rich history, and visa-free regime for Russian citizens have increased interest in the country, and emphasized that Russian tourists may prefer China, which has not yet been widely explored by Russian travelers, over the well-known holiday destinations along the Mediterranean or Red Sea coasts .

Chinese tourists can “search for a spouse” in Russia

Jurova also stated that thanks to the mutual visa-free regime Russia has implemented for Chinese citizens, they expect a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country. She noted that this interest won't stem solely from tourist attractions, saying, " In China, men outnumber women, which creates problems when it comes to starting a family. Therefore, it's likely that Chinese men will come to Russia looking for a 'Russian bride.'"

Visa-free travel to China for Russian citizens went into effect on September 15th. The first passengers reported the positive response they received at the Chinese border crossings. They reported that no return tickets or hotel reservations were required, and checks were quick and easy.

However, it was noted that some Chinese hotels were not yet aware of the new policy and that Russian guests were still being asked to show their visas.