Group 1 - The Russian government has announced a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens traveling for tourism and business purposes until September 14, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days [1] - Following the announcement, travel booking platforms reported a significant surge in interest, with Fliggy noting an over 8-fold increase in flight searches to Russia within an hour of the news [1] - Popular destinations among Chinese tourists include Moscow, Murmansk, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, and Irkutsk, with hotel bookings to Russia increasing by over 40% year-on-year [1] Group 2 - Spring Tour's Vice General Manager indicated a notable rise in inquiries for Russian travel products even before the visa-free policy was officially announced, with a growing interest in winter activities like aurora viewing and snowmobile rides in Murmansk [2] - The winter tourism experience in Russia is becoming increasingly popular among young Chinese travelers, with cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai showing the highest booking interest [2] - The visa-free policy coincides with the peak season for outbound winter tourism, and significant growth in travel from border areas like Heilongjiang is expected [2] Group 3 - Spring Tour has reported that several winter-themed travel packages to Russia for January and February 2026, including during the Spring Festival, are already sold out, indicating strong market demand [3] - The company plans to enhance its offerings in the Russian tourism market by introducing train travel packages and exploring new destinations in Russia's Far East [3]

Core Insights - The Russian government has implemented a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens traveling for tourism and business purposes, effective from December 1, 2023, until September 14, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days [1][2] - The announcement has led to a significant increase in interest for travel to Russia, with search volumes on travel platforms surging over 200% within half an hour of the news [1] - The upcoming winter travel season, particularly around New Year and Spring Festival, is expected to see a peak in tourism to Russia, especially in border areas like Heilongjiang [1] Industry Impact - Travel companies are experiencing a notable rise in inquiries and bookings for Russian travel products, with some offerings already sold out for the January-February 2026 period [2] - The high cost-performance ratio of winter activities in Russia, such as aurora viewing and snow-related experiences, is attracting a diverse range of Chinese tourists [2] - Companies like Spring and Autumn Tourism are planning to enhance their product offerings, including specialized train trips to Russia and new destinations in the Far East [2] - The visa-free policy is anticipated to boost not only leisure travel but also educational, business, and official visits [2]