Chinese travel bookings to Russia have surged dramatically, with some metrics showing increases of up to 400%, driven by President Vladimir Putin’s pledge for visa-free travel and escalating tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
In the 48 hours following Putin’s announcement of impending visa-free entry for Chinese citizens, search and product-view volumes for Russia on Chinese travel platforms reportedly jumped three to five times higher than the previous week.
Putin’s pledge, made last week, reciprocates China’s September decision to lift visa requirements for Russian passport holders. The specific implementation date for Russia’s policy has not yet been announced. More details here: The Moscow Times.
Russian hotel bookings for Chinese travelers in December are already up by approximately 50% compared to last year. Subramania Bhatt, CEO of China Trading Desk, attributes this surge primarily to visa-free travel.
The rise in interest is further fueled by a diplomatic spat between Japan and China. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments about a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan potentially triggering Japanese military action sparked fury in Beijing.
China’s Foreign Ministry has since urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and Chinese airlines have reportedly been instructed to reduce flights to Japan through March 2026.
Bhatt noted that many Chinese travelers who initially considered Hokkaido, Japan, for winter sports are now opting for Russian destinations like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Russia’s Far East and Arctic regions.
The combination of visa-free entry and the perception of Russia as a less politically sensitive destination compared to Japan makes the substitution easier for travel agencies to suggest and for travelers to accept.
Russia and China already have a mutual visa-free regime for group tours, and last year, China also allowed Russian transit travelers to stay for up to 10 days without a visa.
Putin’s initial September pledge to ease visa restrictions for Chinese nationals also sparked an earlier increase in hotel and flight searches from China. Read more: SCMP.
The escalating regional tensions are palpable, with Japan recently scrambling fighter jets to intercept a presumed Chinese unmanned aircraft near Yonaguni Island and Taiwan. This incident underscores the heightened military vigilance in the area. The aerial encounter signals a fragile peace.
Further reflecting this strategic imperative, Japan’s defense minister has been inspecting frontline bases close to Taiwan, a move that clearly signals Tokyo’s readiness and concern over regional stability. These inspections highlight the critical importance of these islands.