“吃住还没安排，人均成本已近万元”！实探免签后赴俄旅游：到莫斯科手机卡通信受限、导航失灵、信用卡不能用，在北极圈都有中国游客排队

Group 1 - The Russian government has implemented a visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports, allowing a single stay of up to 30 days, effective from December 1, 2025, until September 14, 2026, aimed at promoting tourism and business activities [1] - The Russian Ministry of Economic Development anticipates that the number of Chinese tourists will exceed 2 million in 2026, with a target of reaching 5.5 million by 2030 due to the visa-free policy [3] - Following the announcement of the visa-free policy, there was a significant increase in interest for travel to Russia, with flight search volume increasing by over 800% and booking volume rising by nearly 500% within an hour [14] Group 2 - The cost of traveling in Russia has risen significantly, with average expenses for a trip reaching around 10,000 RMB per person, excluding accommodation and meals [3] - Prices for activities such as ballet performances and ice floating experiences have surged, with tickets for major theaters during the New Year period reaching around 2,000 RMB, comparable to the highest concert ticket prices in China [6] - The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to inflation and increased living costs in Russia, affecting both locals and tourists, with essential goods and services experiencing price hikes [7][8] Group 3 - Tourists face challenges in Russia due to the unavailability of major credit cards like Visa and MasterCard, necessitating cash transactions in rubles or Chinese yuan [8] - Communication issues arise for visitors, as foreign SIM cards are restricted, and navigation apps are unreliable due to the conflict, complicating travel logistics [10][11] - The presence of Chinese tourists is becoming more prominent in Russia, with local businesses adapting to cater to the renewed interest in tourism following the visa-free policy [15]