Chinese tourists decided not to rush to Russia: why they don’t go

After three years of the protracted Chinese version of the pandemic, the Celestial Empire finally removed the lock from the borders, allowing its citizens to travel to 20 countries, including Russia. The borders were opened on 6 February. But it turns out that Chinese tourists are not in a hurry to visit us. Why?

On the eve of the fall of the “great Chinese pandemic wall”, Russian tour operators specializing in inbound tourism were very optimistic: they had been waiting for guests from China almost since the morning of February 7th. As a “reinforced concrete” argument in favor of the rapid restoration of the mass tourist flow from China, the service in the Russian Federation of cards of the Chinese payment system was cited. However, a week has passed, and instead of victorious rejoicing in the companies waiting for a rush, they laconically answer: “There are requests, there are no tourists yet.” Only one operator managed to achieve a stingy expansion: “They still need to get visas, but too little time has passed yet.”

We clarify the entry procedure for Chinese citizens: yes, everyone needs a visa to travel to Russia, except for holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as citizens of Macau and Hong Kong (they are allowed “visa-free” in the Russian Federation for 30 and 14 days, respectively).

It can be assumed that crowds of Chinese tourists, excited by their imminent voyage to the Russian Federation, are impatiently waiting for a stamp in their passports … But organized groups of five people arriving in the Russian Federation for a period of no more than 15 days do not need a visa either. What’s the matter, where are the promised tourist teas?

I called the hotel complex in the east of Moscow, where tourist groups from China traditionally stop.

Have the Chinese already arrived?

– No, there are no large groups. Only single ones, and then very few. Do you offer guide services? No, we do not need, there are no Chinese.

This brings me to a new idea. I call an agency that recruits translators who speak rare languages.

– Do you need Russian-Chinese translators with hourly pay?

– No, there is no demand now. Call closer to summer.

It seems that the Chinese are not in a hurry to us, although no one directly says this. Chinese interlocutors who are at home say that they dream of visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg. Travel agencies – both Chinese and their Russian counterparts – assure that everything is ready for sending and receiving tourist groups, there are many requests and now “they are being processed.” Most of all, they say, the “red” route through the revolutionary places of Russia for 9 days / 8 nights, as well as 4 nights in the “cradles” of the October Revolution – two in St. Petersburg, two in Moscow, are in demand.

– Our Chinese all arrived between February 6 and 10, – they answer in the capital’s university, which specializes in teaching students from all over the world. – A lot of people came at once, but they are not tourists, but our students and graduate students. They live in a hostel.

I take a private interest in the employees of the Society of Chinese Culture and History at the Embassy of the PRC, who live in one of the estates near Moscow, where the VI Congress of the Communist Party of China was held at the beginning of the last century.

– Of course, our citizens really dream of visiting Russia! – Diplomats from the Celestial Empire answer with all Chinese politeness. “And they have every opportunity to do so. Why haven’t they arrived yet? Gathering, probably.

And only one student, who recently arrived from Shanghai, begging not to be named, allows himself to reveal to the hosts, who did not wait for the guests, the impolite truth about Chinese tourism to Russia.

– You know, for the majority now it’s too expensive. My parents, for example, wanted to take me to Moscow and see Russia, but they couldn’t. It was enough just to send me. But if it’s not expensive for someone … Then, then, they issue passports. During the pandemic, they were not extended to anyone, so they expired for many.

As confirmation, the guy opens a Chinese site offering tours to Russia and translates the latest updates:

“9 days in the Russian Federation with departure from Shanghai (2 days Moscow, 2 days St. Petersburg, 4 days Golden Ring of Russia, guide services and high-speed railway within the country are included) – from 22,241 yuan per person (today it is 239,535 rubles) . Group of 20 people. As of February 14, this tour was purchased by only one person, and 6 were interested. With other announced tours, it’s about the same: a week in the Russian Federation from 20 thousand yuan, a group of 20 people, only a few were interested.

“Now the one who bought it will wait for the group to fill up,” my interlocutor explains. – Of course, they will also carry a small train if the tourists want to, but it will be more expensive. We have this: the more the group has gathered, the cheaper the trip is for everyone. The Chinese never travel in twos or threes, so Russia will have to wait.