China's visa abolition for Russians should be closely monitored.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that they will apply temporary visa exemption to Russian citizens holding ordinary passports from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that, in response to China's decision to implement a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, Russia would grant similar visa-free entry rights to Chinese citizens.

So how will China 's lifting of visa requirements for Russians affect tourism? Could China become a rival to Turkey ?

Commenting on the matter , Orhan Sancar, Pegas Touristik's Central Asia and CIS coordinator and Tourism Economy writer, emphasized that China's visa-free entry for Russian citizens is a development in the tourism sector that deserves close attention . Sancar stated, "This isn't actually a new move; China has long provided easy online visas to Russia and CIS countries. However, the visa-free travel decision makes a significant difference, both in removing psychological barriers and providing a cost advantage of approximately $50 per person."

Psychological and economic impact

Orhan Sancar, noting that the elimination of visa procedures has accelerated the decision-making process for Russian tourists and created a significant advantage by reducing costs, especially for family and group travel, commented on the weaknesses and strengths of Turkey-China:

Turkey's strengths include short flights, affordable resorts, an all-inclusive system, sun, sea, and sand, and cultural proximity; China 's strengths include historical and cultural tourism, Silk Road routes, a sense of exotic destinations, shopping, and a quest for unique experiences. However, China's weaknesses include language and service standards, long flights, and high costs.

Medium and long-term effects

Sancar noted that this decision wouldn't shake Turkey 's strong position in the Russian market in the short term, saying, "However, in the medium term, China could become an attractive alternative, especially for young, educated, and upper-income Russian tourists. The implication for Turkey is clear: competition will intensify not only on price but also on product diversity and service quality."

Sancar concluded his assessment by underlining the following points:

Rather than posing a direct threat to Turkey, China's decision represents an increase in the number of "alternative destinations" in the Russian market. Russian tourists are now more likely to turn to China as a second choice, especially during times of political and economic turmoil.

Hainan/Sanya, China's resort tourism region , is marketed as " China's Hawaii ." It boasts high-standard resort hotels, primarily international chains and brands. The region, which boasts a tropical climate and year-round swimming experience, already has direct charter and scheduled flight connections for Russian tourists. The Chinese government is trying to make Hainan attractive with duty-free shopping and tax breaks .