Russia working to simplify visa-free travel to China for citizens

Alexei Klimov, director of the consular department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the Russian Ministry of Economic Development is working with Chinese counterparts on an agreement to reduce the minimum tourist group size to three people and increase the period of their visa-free stay to three weeks.

The agreement will also involve the introduction of electronic document flow by the parties, Gazeta.ru reports.

Now citizens of Russia and China can travel between the countries in tourist groups of 5 to 50 people for a period not exceeding 15 days.

Previously, it was reported that China lost 98% of tourists due to COVID-19 restrictions and Beijing's policies.

On May 23, Moscow authorities announced that a visa-free regime with China would develop the tourism industry. Chairman of the city tourism committee Evgeny Kozlov, during his speech at the Russian-Chinese Business Forum in Shanghai, stated that Chinese tourists spend at least $900 on vacation in Russia.

Travel companies in China have canceled group tours due to the coronavirus in 2020.

Previously, the number of tourists from China in Moscow increased sixfold.