Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-12-01 10:18Core Points - Russia has officially implemented a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens for tourism and business purposes until September 14, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days [2] - The announcement has significantly boosted interest in outbound travel to Russia, with a notable increase in flight searches from major Chinese cities [2][3] Group 1: Impact on Travel Industry - Online travel platform Qunar reported a surge in flight searches to Russia, with routes from cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou seeing substantial increases [2] - The most significant growth in searches was observed for flights to St. Petersburg and Moscow, with some routes experiencing increases of up to 16 times compared to the previous week [2] - Travel agencies like Zhongxin Tourism are planning to develop specialized tours focusing on Russia's unique offerings, such as the Northern Lights and winter sports, to attract a broader demographic of Chinese tourists [3] Group 2: Market Trends and Projections - The visa-free policy coincides with the peak season for winter travel, suggesting a potential record high in tourism to Russia during the upcoming New Year and Spring Festival [4] - The border regions, particularly Heilongjiang, are expected to see explosive growth in inbound and outbound tourism due to the favorable visa situation [4] - Data from Tongcheng Travel indicates that major cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai are leading in hotel bookings and flight searches, with a stable pricing trend for tickets to Russia expected until February [4]