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The first groups of Russian tourists went to China on a visa-free exchange, RIA Novosti reports. Among them are residents of Primorsky Krai. The regional administration noted that the first lists of tourists were compiled the day before. On August, 15, nine tourist groups will pass through the Kraskino automobile checkpoint in Hunchun. They unite more than 160 people.
China opened visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg for individual tourists and other travelers.
Primorye is also ready to receive guests from abroad on a visa-free exchange, assured the head of the regional tourism agency Arseniy Krepsky.
In 2018, about 4,5 million people visited Primorye, next year their number increased to five million people. After the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, in 2022 the tourist flow began to grow again, Primorsky Krai received about three million people. In the first six months of 2023, more than a million people came to Primorye, which is 13% more than in the same period last year. The region notes that more than 3,5 million tourists are expected during the year.
The first group of Chinese tourists arrived in Russia under an agreement on a group visa-free exchange on August, 10. Tourists from Xian will spend a week in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where they will get acquainted with the most interesting sights.
At the beginning of the year, China, as an experiment, resumed tourist trips for organized groups of travelers, including to Russia. The agreement between Russia and China on visa-free group tourist trips came into effect again after being suspended due to the pandemic.
Visa-free exchange of tourist groups was launched by Russia and China on August, 1. The agreement concluded by the governments of the states is valid on a reciprocal basis.
Russkiy Mir
