冰雪季 中俄跨境游迎来“双向奔赴”热潮

Group 1 - The core point of the news is the implementation of a visa-free policy by Russia for Chinese citizens, effective from December 1, allowing stays of up to 30 days for various purposes, which is expected to significantly boost cross-border tourism between the two countries [1][2] - Following the announcement of the visa-free policy, there was a dramatic increase in travel interest, with flight searches to Russia on the Fliggy platform surging over 800% and booking volumes increasing nearly 500% within an hour of the announcement [1] - The winter season, typically a low season for Chinese tourists traveling to Russia, is anticipated to transform into a peak season due to the new visa policy, with unique experiences such as aurora viewing and snowmobile rides gaining popularity among younger travelers [2][3] Group 2 - The visa-free policy is expected to enhance the appeal of Russia's winter tourism offerings, with companies like Zhongxin Travel planning to develop specialized tours focusing on auroras, ice, and military experiences, capitalizing on the high cost-performance ratio compared to similar offerings in Nordic countries [3] - The reciprocal visa-free policy has also led to a significant increase in Russian tourists visiting China, with flight bookings up 190% and hotel reservations up 213% since China implemented its own visa-free policy for Russian visitors [3][4] - The timing of the visa-free policy coincides with the peak season for outbound ice and snow tourism, suggesting that travel volumes at border ports, particularly in Heilongjiang, are likely to see explosive growth during key holiday periods like New Year's and Spring Festival [4]