Russian hospitality sector prepares for surge of Chinese tourists

Russia's hospitality sector is preparing for the boom of Chinese tourists sparked by the country's latest visa-free policy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Dec 1 allowing Chinese nationals to enter Russia visa-free for tourism or business purposes for a stay not exceeding 30 days, based on the principle of reciprocity.

Under the decree, which took effect immediately upon its signing, Chinese citizens holding regular People's Republic of China passports have the right to enter Russia and stay for no more than 30 days for purposes including family visits, business trips, tourism, participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic or sports events, as well as transit through Russian territory and exit from the country, without obtaining a visa until Sept 14, 2026. The policy is expected to increase individual tourism especially and promote Russia's remote regions, and Russia's hospitality sector has been adapting and preparing for the arrival of more Chinese guests. "Now we are starting to implement 'China friendly' elements with all our hotels because we are interested in our guests from China and there are some things like directions in the Chinese language, menus in the restaurant. And now we start to employ foreign staff with native language," said Maria Grishina, head of federal projects department of the Moscow-based Cosmos Hotel Group.

Alexander Lvov, head of the "World Without Borders" Travel Association, explained the promotional measures from the government.

"A lot of work on the part of the state and state structures has been done throughout the year to prepare the regions to welcome more tourists including from China. And very soon in December there will be a presentation of regional products at the highest level. They will be presented to Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko. And then the best will receive state support for further promotion, including in the Chinese market," said Lvov.

Chinese tourism is already surging. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, over 106,700 Chinese tourists entered Russia -- an almost 8 percent increase compared to the previous year. In total, Chinese visitors made an estimated 1.2 million tourist trips to Russia in 2024, making China the top source country for inbound tourism.

"This visa-free decision is era-defining for the market. As soon as it was announced we noticed a surge of interest. And we got requests for all seasons -- including spring, summer and even autumn. We predict that the visa-free decision will increase individual tourism by 50 percent and group tourism by 10-15 percent over the next months," said Daria Domostroeva, a representative of Moscow-based tour operator Intourist.

Chinese tourists in Russia said the new policy will make it easier for them to come back and travel more.

"It is my first time in Moscow, Moscow is a beautiful city. I think I will come to Moscow maybe next year in summer because I want to see different seasons," said Chinese tourist Li Jinwen.

"I have been to Irkutsk and now is Moscow and I am going to Murmansk. I want to see so many [cities]. Russia is a huge country," said Chinese tourist Wang Jiayue.

Visa-free access is also expected to deepen cultural exchanges and make business travel easier. Analysts believe that this could significantly strengthen trade, investment, and broader bilateral ties between Russia and China.

Russian hospitality sector prepares for surge of Chinese tourists

Iraq has seen its aviation industry dealt a huge blow because of continued airspace closures and flight suspensions amid regional hostilities triggered by the recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran.

As security concerns persist while tensions remain high, Iraq announced on Friday it would extend the closure of its airspace for one more week as uncertainty over the conflict continues to hang in the air.

It is estimated that the country's aviation industry has lost more than 43 million U.S. dollars over the past month since the crisis erupted, with the war causing huge disruption to air travel across the region.

"After the closure of Iraqi airspace, airport operations were halted, and revenue from both arriving and departing flights was lost. This includes income from passenger services as well as overflying aircraft, which has significantly impacted overall revenues," said Maytham al-Safi, director of media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.

The impact is being felt across the board, from government revenues to private businesses, as some of the leading travel agencies say bookings have completely collapsed, with some reporting daily passenger numbers dropping from around 100 to just five.

"Our company has been directly affected. We have four branches and around 80 employees, and the impact has been significant. We still have rent and other expenses to cover, so we are trying to adapt to whatever limited business is still possible," said Ahmed Khalid, managing director of the Safari Trip travel and tourism company in Baghdad.

With air travel no longer an option, many Iraqis are turning to overland routes -- often traveling for hours, even days, to reach neighboring countries like Türkiye. But the journey is not only longer and more expensive, it can also be highly risky.

"This situation creates real anxiety for families. It's not only the travelers who are at risk, but also the vehicles transporting them. These journeys can be dangerous. There is always the risk of accidents or even drone strikes. At the same time, costs have doubled, so people are facing both financial and safety pressures," said Anwar al-Mousawi, a local resident.

For many, a sense of frustration is growing the longer the current situation drags on, as civilians bear the consequences of a conflict they are not part of, and with no clear timeline for reopening Iraqi airspace, economic losses and public frustration are expected to deepen.

"The reality is, we are in a country that is not part of this war and did not start it, yet we are the ones paying the price," said al-Mousawi.

Iraq's aviation industry left grounded as Middle East crisis continues