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Russia calling: red carpet rolled out for Chinese tourists as Western sanctions bite
- Russian tourism delegations have been showcasing their latest programmes tailored for Chinese clients, as US-led sanctions squeeze the sector
- Tourist-friendly moves include new e-visa system and more Chinese signage, but security concerns, as with the recent Wagner rebellion, remain
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As Beijing baked under record summer heat on a Friday afternoon in June, Russian hotel and airlines representatives enthusiastically showcased their latest travel programmes tailored for Chinese clients.
“You can find a cool summer in St Petersburg,” one of them told Chinese tour operators gathered in a downtown Beijing conference hall.
“We have the very famous presidential suites, where President Xi Jinping stayed during his visit to Moscow,” said another, and a murmur rippled through the audience.
Their message was simple – Russia welcomes Chinese tourists.
Squeezed by US-led sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine 16 months ago, Russia is now looking at the world’s second-largest economy to help offset the impact on its tourism and cultural sectors.
According to Russian state news agency Tass, only about 190,000 foreign tourists from outside the former Soviet states visited Russia last year.
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