Sanya expects influx of Russian tourists with new visa-free policy

Sanya is poised to welcome a significant increase in Russian visitors following China's newly announced visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Russia. From Sept 15, 2025, to Sept 14, 2026, Russians will be able to enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, and transit stays of up to 30 days.

Industry data has shown a rapid positive response. Within half an hour of the news, searches for flights from Moscow to China on the Qunar platform nearly doubled, with a peak increase of four times.

Russia already ranked among the top three source countries for inbound tourism to China this summer. With the added convenience of visa-free travel, Sanya — already one of the most popular destinations among Russians — is expected to see particularly strong growth.

Travel industry experts are optimistic. Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour, said, ''Russian tourists have shown especially strong interest in Sanya,'' adding that the policy will likely boost visits not only to major cities but also to niche and cultural destinations.

The visa-free measure is set to deepen people-to-people and economic exchanges between China and Russia, further energizing China's inbound tourism market.

Russian tourists enjoy the scenery at Dadonghai, Sanya. [Photo/Sanya Daily]