Foreign tourists in Russia

Tourism in Russia

Main article: Tourism in Russia

2024

Ministry of Economic Development: Foreign tourists made 5 million trips to Russia over the year, an increase of 40%

Ministry of Economic Development Russia recorded an increase in the number of trips of foreign tourists to the country by 40% in 2024. According to the ministry, the total number of such visits reached 5 million. This was announced in February 2025 by Igor Maksimov, Deputy Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development.

According to TASS, the Ministry of Economic Development connects the increase in tourist flow with a set of measures for the development of inbound tourism implemented over the past two years. Among them are the introduction of an electronic visa, the expansion of the program of visa-free group tours with China and Iran, as well as the promotion of the national tourism brand Discover Russia.

Foreign tourists made 5 million trips to Russia per year

As Maksimov explained, in addition to registered 5 million trips, about 9-10 million visits were recorded on international air transportation. The largest increase in inbound tourism was noted in Kamchatka - the number of trips increased 1.5 times.

In 2024, the Discover Russia brand was introduced to international markets, including China, India and the Middle East. As part of the program, 11 tourist routes were developed in 12 regions of Russia, adapted for foreign travelers. Kamchatka Territory became the first subject of the country to present the cobranding route "Land of Dragons" for tourists from China. According to the ministry, within the framework of this initiative, tourist trips for 20 Chinese companies have already taken place.

The development of international tourism in Russia is also accompanied by the launch of new charter programs. In 2024, commercial agreements were concluded with foreign tour operators, which made it possible to organize the supply of tourists to a number of Russian regions.

In addition to China, visa-free group travel programs covered Iran. According to Maksimov, the mechanism of such trips is actively developing, which contributes to an increase in tourist flow. In 2024, the list of countries whose residents can apply for an electronic visa to visit Russia was expanded.^[1]

Growth of foreign tourist flow 2.3 times to 1.57 million people

The number of tourist trips of foreign Russia citizens in 2024 reached 1.57 million, an increase of 2.3 times compared to 2023. This was reported in February 2025 in the border service. In FSB Russia 2023, this figure amounted to 670.7 thousand trips.

According to Interfax, China has become the absolute leader in the number of tourists who sent 848 thousand people to Russia, which is 4.5 times more than in 2023. In second place is Germany with 66.5 thousand tourists, increasing the flow by 20%.

Moscow City

The third place was taken by the United Arab Emirates, from where 65.2 thousand tourists arrived, showing an increase of 50%. The fourth position was taken by Turkey with 58.5 thousand tourists and an increase of 23%, and the fifth - Turkmenistan with an indicator of 57.3 thousand people and an increase of 60%.

Significant growth was demonstrated by Saudi Arabia, which rose from 16th to 6th place and increased the tourist flow sevenfold to 55.1 thousand people. The top ten also included Iran with 49.6 thousand tourists and an increase of 68%, Kazakhstan with 24 thousand and an increase of 48%, India with 23.1 thousand and an increase of 58%, Cuba - 17.6 thousand with an increase of 50%.

In the second ten are located Estonia with 17.1 thousand tourists, Uzbekistan Kuwait and with the same indicator 16.2 thousand, - Latvia 14 thousand, - Poland 12.1 thousand. Also in this group were Israel from 11.7 thousand visits, - 10.6 South Korea thousand, - 10.5 Belarus thousand, - 10.2 Azerbaijan thousand and - 9.8 thousand Qatar.

The table shows the largest countries in terms of the number of tourists who arrived in Russia in 2024, as well as comparative data for 2023 and growth rates.

Among the third ten countries, Thailand provided a noticeable tourist flow with 8.7 thousand trips, Bahrain - 8.1 thousand, Italy - 7.9 thousand, USA - 6.9 thousand, France - 6.5 thousand. Taiwan and Serbia showed the same result in 6.3 thousand tourists, and Vietnam sent 4.7 thousand travelers.

The total number of entries to Russia with all goals reached 16.75 million, an increase of 6.5% compared to 2023. In terms of the total number of entrances, neighboring countries are in the lead: Kazakhstan - 3.4 million trips, Uzbekistan - 3.36 million, Tajikistan - 1.7 million, China - 1.69 million and Kyrgyzstan - 1.19 million trips.^[2]

Visa-free tourist flow between Russia and China reached 580 thousand trips in a year

In the year since the launch of visa-free group trips between Russia and China, the tourist flow has reached almost 580 thousand people. Of these, 240 thousand are Chinese citizens who visited Russia. This was announced on August 1, 2024 by the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia Dmitry Vakhrukov at a meeting of the subcommittee on cooperation in the field of tourism of the Russian-Chinese commission on humanitarian cooperation.

According to Vakhrukov, there is a dynamics of growth in the number of tourists interested in visa-free travel. In order to expand the volume of tourist flows, the meeting participants agreed to update the agreement on visa-free group trips. It is proposed to reduce from 5 to 3 people the minimum composition of the tourist group, as well as increase the length of stay of the tourist group in the host state from 15 to 21 days. These changes may come into force before the end of 2024.

Visa-free tourist flow between Russia and China amounted to 580 thousand trips per year

The meeting also touched upon the topic of interaction at multilateral platforms. The participants noted the successful holding of the first meeting of the working group and the meeting of tourism ministers of the countries of the interstate association BRICS in June 2024. The parties agreed to organize Russia at the end of September the eighth meeting of the heads of the tourism administrations of Russia, Mongolia China and supported the idea of ​ ​ holding industry events of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Chinese city of Qingdao in 2025.

From August 1, 2023, Russia and China launched a visa-free group tourist exchange as part of an intergovernmental agreement. In addition, from August 1, 2023, a visa-free group tour exchange between Russia and Iran was also launched.^[3]

2023

Rosstat published a full list of countries leading in tourist flow to Russia

In 2023, foreign citizens made 8.2 million tourist trips to Russia, which is 0.4% less than in 2022. Such data are given in the materials of the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), with which TAdviser got acquainted in mid-February 2025.

It is reported that during 2023, guests from non-CIS countries made 2.8 million trips to the Russian Federation, which corresponds to a share of 34.1% of the total number of tourist visits. 5.4 million people arrived from the CIS member states in Russia, or 65.9% of the total number of foreign tourists.

If you do not take into account visitors from the CIS countries, the leaders in the tourist flow were Abkhazia (approximately 749.9 thousand tourists who arrived in the Russian Federation), (China 477.1 thousand), (Mongolia 287.3 thousand), South Ossetia (169 thousand) and (Georgia 117.3 thousand). From countries European Union , Russia was most often visited by residents (Estonia 106.5 thousand), (97.9 Germany thousand) and (66.2 Finland thousand). Turkey 81.9 thousand tourists arrived in Russia from 2023, from UAE 44.8 thousand.

If we consider the countries, Eurasian Economic Union then the most tourists in 2023 arrived in Russia from - Kazakhstan about 2.2 million people. Of Armenia the tourist flows, 366.5 thousand people, of - Kyrgyzstan 288.2 thousand, of - Belarus 247 thousand (data are given without taking into account citizens who crossed the Russian-Belarusian border, due to the lack of checkpoints on it).

Data on the inbound flow to Russia for 2023

The Rosstat report also states that in 2023 848 thousand citizens of Tajikistan and 834 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan entered Russia. Approximately 260 thousand people arrived from Azerbaijan. It is noted that the least tourists (at the level of 1 thousand) come to Russia from such states as Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, etc.^[4]

Foreign tourists in 2023 brought $3.5 billion to Russia

In 2023, foreign tourists brought approximately $3.5 billion to Russia, and the tourist flow increased by a million people compared to 2022. Such indicators were released at the end of June 2024.

According to the estimates of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), in 2023 15.5 million foreigners entered Russia for various purposes (tourism, business, private and work trips, study, treatment, etc.). This is 2.4 million more than in 2022. Moreover, over half of this amount was provided by four neighboring countries: Kazakhstan (3.2 million), Uzbekistan (3.1 million), Tajikistan (2.2 million) and Kyrgyzstan (1.1 million).

In 2023, receipts from foreign tourists to Russia amounted to about $3.5 billion

We have an increase in tourist trips of foreigners in 2023 amounted to more than a million people. They brought in approximately $3.5 billion. We want much more, "said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

According to him, it was for tourist purposes that 3.8 million foreign citizens arrived in Russia in 2023. In 2024, an increase in the entry tourist flow is expected by 30% - up to 5 million people.

The ATOR study notes that in the fourth quarter of 2023, a surge in tourist trips was recorded in Russia. Traditionally, the period from October to December is a low season for tourism in Russia. But in 2023, the situation turned out to be atypical: since August, an electronic visa has been earned and, as a result, in the fall the number of foreign tourists in the Russian Federation was at the level of the summer season. The interest of foreign citizens, in particular, the Chinese in traveling in Russia in winter is primarily associated with Murmansk and Karelia. According to the consular department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, 170 thousand unified electronic visas were issued in the five months of 2023. However, it is noted that when issuing such a document, it is not necessary to indicate the purpose of the trip, and therefore not all foreigners arriving in Russia pursue tourist goals - these can be business or personal trips.^[5]

Russia increased the issuance of visas to EU citizens to 158,972 pieces

In 2023, Russia issued 158,972 visas to European Union citizens. This is 0.7% more compared to the previous year and 37.7% less than in 2021. Such data were released on April 23, 2024.

According to the SchengenVisaInfo resource, referring to statistics, MFA Russia citizens received the most Russian visas in 2023 - Germany 58,888, which corresponds to approximately 37% of the total. In second place is Latvia with 20,902 visas received, and closes the top three Estonia with 11,340 visas. This is followed Lithuania by 10,063 Italy and 10,031 visas, respectively. The fewest visas issued to citizens in 2023 are 48. Croatia Citizens Ireland received 422 visas, - 330, Luxembourg - 194, - Malta 70. Iceland

In 2023, Russia issued 158,972 visas to European Union citizens

The study says that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the formed geopolitical situation, the number of visas issued by Russia to EU citizens has sharply decreased. So, if in 2019 their number was approximately 1.68 million, then in 2020 it collapsed to 226.23 thousand. In 2021, approximately 255.49 thousand visas were issued, in 2022 - 157.86 thousand.

Germany has been the largest recipient of Russian visas for many years. The Top 5 ranking also traditionally included France, Italy and Finland, while Spain and Poland often fought for fifth place. For example, in 2019, Germany, France, Italy, Finland and Spain received almost 950 thousand Russian visas, which is more than half of the total volume (56.4%). However, in 2022 and 2023, after the start of a special operation in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions against Russia, the rating of countries receiving Russian visas changed dramatically. The report says that against the background of geopolitical tensions, the main recipients of Russian visas are the Baltic countries.^[6]

The number of foreign tourists who entered Russia tripled to 600 thousand people over the year

In 2023, about 600 thousand foreign tourists arrived in Russia, which is three times more than a year earlier, when the tourist flow from abroad was measured 187 thousand people. Dmitry Gorin, vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT), cited such data in early February 2024.

According to him, the main volume of visitors to Russia in 2023 is business tourists (80%). Gorin also noted that the number of foreign tourists who travel in groups and on excursions lags behind 2019 by 90%.

In 2023, about 600 thousand foreign tourists arrived in Russia

The PCT vice president says the electronic visa has had a significant impact on the development of inbound tourism. Expensive air tickets and the lack of "payment solutions" have become a deterrent, since cards of foreign banks in Russia do not work, he said.

But of the positive, in addition to electronic visas, it should be noted the launch of visa-free group trips for citizens of China and Iran. According to statistics, in the first months of August [2023] alone, we received over 50 thousand Chinese tourists through this mechanism, "added Dmitry Gorin.

He clarified that 600 thousand people are the number of foreign tourists in Russia who indicated the purpose of "tourism." At the same time, Nikita Kondratyev, Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, cited data on February 2, 2024, according to which about 8.5 million foreign tourists visited Russia in 2023, which is 3.5% more than a year earlier. According to Kondratyev, 17 priority countries were identified to increase the entry tourist flow, mainly the countries of the Middle East and Asia.

We see that thanks to a number of measures, the interest of foreign tourists to travel to Russia is returning. This is also evidenced by the data on a twofold increase in the booking of Russian accommodation facilities, - he added.[7]

Chernyshenko: China became the leader in the number of foreign tourists in Russia

China became the leader in the number of foreign tourists in. Russia This was RUSSIAN FEDERATION Dmitry Chernyshenko announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on December 18, 2023 during the 27th meeting of the Russian-Chinese Commission on the preparation of regular meetings of heads of government in. Beijing

According to the forecast of the Ministry of Economic Development, which Chernyshenko brought, the volume of tourist trips between Russia and China by the end of 2023 will exceed 1 million people, and by 2030 it will grow fivefold. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation also noted the high demand for electronic visas: they account for more than half of the total entry tourist flow to Russia.

According to the border service, in Federal Security Service (FSB) January-September 2023, citizens of other countries crossed the Russian border for a tourist purpose 429.1 thousand times, which is three times more than in the same period of 2022 (147.3 thousand trips). Citizens made the most trips to Russia for tourism in the first nine months of 2023. China During this period, the FSB recorded 105.8 thousand cases of crossing the Russian border by Chinese tourists. Over the year, the flow increased significantly: in January - September 2022, statistics recorded only 563 arrivals of Chinese tourists to Russia.

As for tourists from other countries, most often citizens of Germany, Turkey, Iran and Turkmenistan came to Russia in January - September 2023. Compared to last year, the number of trips of tourists from Germany, Turkey and Iran doubled - up to 42 thousand, 33.7 thousand and 25.5 thousand trips, respectively. Turkmenistan showed the greatest dynamics - the number of trips from this country to Russia over the year increased 11 times - to 23.5 thousand against 2.1 thousand a year earlier, according to the FSB border service^[8]

The launch of electronic visas in Russia led to a sharp increase in the number of foreign tourists

The launch of electronic visas in Russia has led to a sharp increase in the number of foreign tourists. The Kommersant newspaper wrote about this at the end of August 2023 with reference to the data of the booking services. Read more here.

Citizens of 19 countries will be able to receive tourist visas to Russia for 6 months. List

In February 2023, the Russian government approved a list of countries whose citizens can receive an ordinary tourist visa for up to 6 months when confirming a reservation.

The list includes 19 states:

• Bahrain
• Brunei
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Cambodia
• China
• North Korea
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Myanmar
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Philippines

2022

Entry of foreign tourists to Russia decreased by 4.9 million to 200 thousand people

According to the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation, in 2022, 200.1 thousand foreigners visited Russia for tourist purposes. This is almost 4.9 million or 25.5 times less than in pre-pandemic 2019. The entry tourist flow to Russia at the end of last year turned out to be less than even in "covid" 2020 and 2021.

By the end of 2022, the inbound organized tourist flow to Russia decreased by more than 90%. We are talking about an organized segment and classic tourists, not business trips. Difficulties with issuing visas and flights, a negative information background around Russia during the conflict in Ukraine discouraged the desire of foreign tourists to come to the country.

The top three in terms of tourist flow in the Russian Federation are formed by Germany, Iran and Turkey. There is growing interest in Russia from travelers from India.

In 2023, the market is counting on a visa-free travel program from Iran and the return of Chinese travelers to the market.

The total number of trips of foreigners to Russia increased by 16% in 9 months

The total number of trips of foreigners to Russia increased by 16% - from 8.7 million in January-September 2021 to 10.2 million in the three quarters of 2022. Compared to the same period in 2019, the entry tourist flow lags 2.5 times.

Inbound tourist flow to the Russian Federation in the first half of the year increased by 26.5% to 81.5 thousand visits

Tourist flow to the Russian Federation in the first half of 2022 increased by 26.5% compared to the same period in 2021 and amounted to 81.5 thousand visits of foreigners to Russia for tourist purposes, but decreased 25 times compared to the indicator of the pre-pandemic first half of 2019 - ATOR.

2021

Foreign tourist flow in the Russian Federation for 2 years decreased by 17.5 times

In 2021, foreign tourists visited Russia 288.3 thousand times, which is 17.5 times less than in 2019 (then the foreign flow exceeded 5 million visits), when there was no coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 due to which the tourism industry suffered greatly. This was announced in mid-February 2022 with reference to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) data of the border service. FSB OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

In 2021, Cuban citizens most often came to Russia - over 72 thousand visits per year. Germany is in second place - in 38.1 thousand visits. The UAE took third place - 26.4 thousand tourist visits to Russia.

The top five also included Turkey (23.2 thousand) and India (16.7 thousand). In sixth place is actually a new, but promising for Russia inbound tourism market - Qatar. In 2021, citizens of this country made 10.3 thousand tourist visits to Russia. This is four times more than in 2019, according to ATOR data.

In seventh place is Kazakhstan. According to tour operators, many visits from this country were made independently and not always for the purpose of classical tourism. Nevertheless, there were also groups from Kazakhstan in 2021. In eighth place is the United States. The tourist flow in comparison with 2019 decreased 28 times: from 241.1 thousand to 8.7 thousand in 2021.

The top 10 entry markets of Russia are closed in 2021 by Serbia (8.1 thousand visits) and Armenia (6.5 thousand). Both countries have significantly reduced tourist flow compared to 2019.

It is noted that they began to come from China less often. Only 230 tourists in 2021 visited the country, according to official data from ATOR. In 2019, 1.5 tourists came from the PRC to the Russian Federation.

In total, in 2021, foreigners made 12.1 million visits to Russia for all purposes. This is 2.5 million more than in the previous year, but 20.8 million less than in 2019. Mainly trips were made by citizens of neighboring countries. ^[9]

Total 175 thousand visits of foreigners in 9 months

Foreign tourists made only 175.8 thousand visits to Russia from January to September 2021. Compared to 2019, the entry tourist flow has decreased by at least 24 times.

2020: Decrease in the flow of foreign tourists to the Russian Federation by 93%, to 336 thousand arrivals

In 2020, 336 thousand arrivals of foreign citizens to Russia for tourism were registered, which is 93% less than a year earlier. This is evidenced by the data of the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, almost all tourists visited the Russian Federation in the first quarter of 2020 - then 322.8 thousand people arrived. In the second quarter, travelers from abroad did not visit Russia (zero arrivals). In the third, 4 thousand tourists arrived, in the fourth - 9 thousand. man.

In total, 9.6 million foreigners entered Russia in 2020, which is 67.5% less than a year earlier. This indicator, as well as the flow of tourists to Russia, decreased greatly due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which led to the closure of the borders of the Russian Federation for many countries.

According to Interfax, citing statistics from the department, most often residents of the following states visited Russia in 2020:

• Ukraine - 3.65 million (-57.6% compared to 2019);
• Kazakhstan - 1.4 million;
• Uzbekistan - 720 thousand;
• Tajikistan - 401.8 thousand;
• Kyrgyzstan - 299.6 thousand.

Next are, Azerbaijan,, and Armenia Finland. Belarus China

After the lockdown, all the activity of tour operators focused on the five main tourist destinations opened in August - September. These are Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Cuba, the Maldives and Tanzania (Zanzibar).

The Federal Tourism Agency believes that the entry tourist flow to Russia will return to pre-crisis indicators no earlier than 2023. The head of the department, Zarina Doguzova, noted that by the fall of 2021, the department expects a gradual restoration of international flows.

According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, the volume of domestic tourist flows in Russia in 2020 decreased by 35-40% compared to the previous year and amounted to 40-42 million people. In 2019, 68 million trips were made.^[10][11]

2019

Ukraine is the leader in the number of people entering Russia

What Chinese tourists in Russia spend money on

For nine months of 2019, Chinese tourists who came to Moscow made purchases by an average of 24.6 thousand rubles, analysts of the Sendy payment system and the Evotor IT company calculated. Both companies act as service providers for Chinese payment services WeChat Pay and Alipay in Russian stores.

Spending through these payment systems in other Russian cities is expected to be lower than in the capital. The average check of WeChat users in St. Petersburg is 19.9 thousand rubles, in Vladivostok - 13.6 thousand rubles, in Khabarovsk - 12.4 thousand rubles, in Yekaterinburg - 10.8 thousand rubles, in Blagoveshchensk - 9.5 thousand rubles, in Novosibirsk - 8.8 thousand rubles.

Studying the checks, analysts came to the conclusion that the most popular goods among Chinese tourists are amber and cosmetics. They account for 30% of all purchases in Russian stores using Chinese payment applications.

The Chinese believe that amber brings prosperity and is a symbol of prosperity.

The top five in terms of spending product categories also include jewelry (12%), souvenirs (8%), alcohol (6%) and chocolate (5%).

The rise of the number of tourists from China

In January - June 2019, the Chinese, according to Rosstat, made 780.1 thousand trips to Russia for tourist purposes - 17% more than in the same period last year. The total number of Chinese who entered Russia in the first half of this year, according to the FSB border service, reached 959.8 thousand people.

2017: 24.6 million foreign tourists In Russia

2013: Russia No. 9 in the world in terms of the number of foreign tourists - 28.4 million people

The World Tourism Organization has included Russia the top ten most visited countries in the world. She took the ninth line of the rating. According to the organization, in 2013, 28.4 million tourists visited Russia. The first place in the list is occupied by France almost 85 million people, in second place (USA 70 million), in third - (60 Spain million). Next in the list are,,, and China, and closes Italy Turkey Germany Great Britain the top ten Thailand.

According to Vyacheslav Krasko, a member of the Union of Circumnavigators, most tourists go to see Moscow and St. Petersburg.

"Those who arrived for a long time go to other cities of the Central Russia - along the Golden Ring, in. Kazan Those who love natural places go to Lake Baikal, take the famous train - which Vladivostok Moscow foreigners call vodkatrain - there are special cars for them. Some know about Kamchatka, volcanoes, geysers. These are the most popular places where tourists strive to go, "the traveler said.

Notes