China Fully Resumes Russia Visa-Free Group Tours... Dedicated Travel Agency Selected

China appears set to fully activate people-to-people exchanges by designating travel agencies responsible for handling visa-free group tours to Russia for its citizens.

On the 12th, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the first selection of 268 domestic travel agencies authorized to represent visa-free group tours to Russia. These agencies are located across 31 provincial-level administrative regions, including Beijing and Shanghai. The Ministry explained that the list was released "following friendly negotiations between China and Russia in accordance with the regulations related to the 'China-Russia Group Travel Visa Agreement.'"

China and Russia signed a visa-free group tourism agreement in February 2000. Groups of 5 to 50 tourists can visit the other country without a visa for up to 15 days after completing the necessary procedures. However, since early 2020, China’s adherence to the 'Zero COVID' policy caused a sharp decline in tourists traveling to Russia.

Then, in February of this year, China classified Russia as a country eligible for group tours, and with the resumption of visa-free group tourism between the two countries starting last month, the situation has begun to change.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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