PCT predicts a sharp increase in the popularity of tourism to China

After the abolition of the visa regime for Russians to China, the popularity of this destination among tourists may grow by 30%. This was stated by the vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT) Yuri Barzykin on Tuesday, September 2.

"Any liberalization of the visa regime leads to an increase in tourist flow by 10-15%. In this case, the growth may be even higher, up to 30%. So there will be a very good momentum right now, and then there is a prospect of growth up to 30%," the expert predicted in a conversation with Lenta.Ru .

According to him, the convenience of logistics can also affect the growth of tourist traffic: air travel to China is available from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other regions. Barzykin also pointed to the restoration of railway communication.

He added that a visa-free regime for 30 days is quite sufficient for both tourism and business trips.

"I hope this experiment will last not only one year, but also beyond. And, of course, as a rule, the principle of reciprocity applies, so there will probably also be visa breaks for Chinese comrades," he concluded.

On the silk road: China introduces a visa-free regime for Russians from September 15

Russian citizens will be able to enter China using a regular passport.

Earlier in the day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026, China will introduce a visa-free regime for Russian citizens with a regular passport for up to 30 days, according to the website. kp.ru .

In turn, travel expert Natalia Anstal said that Russian tourists vacationing in China most often choose Hainan Island, NSN reports.

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