Visa waiver sparks flood of Russian visitors

For Dubinets Regina, 28, a sales manager in Blagoveshchensk, Russia, the map of her weekends has been radically redrawn. Where the Amur River once marked a chasm, it is now a mere 10-minute ferry crossing to a new world of shopping, dining and adventure.

Just months ago, a trip to Heihe — the Chinese city visible from her own riverbank — required weeks of planning, reams of documents and a 2,500-ruble ($32) visa fee. Now, she simply packs her passport and a tote bag for a spontaneous cross-border jaunt.

The shift follows China's launch of a yearlong trial visa-free policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports, effective from Sept 15 this year to Sept 14 next year, allowing stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as business travel, tourism and transit. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed an executive order temporarily waiving visa requirements for Chinese nationals until Sept 14.

China's move has already sparked great interest among Russians considering traveling to China. State media TASS, citing travel-industry data, reported a surge in demand for air tickets. Artem Kuzmin, deputy director for aviation market development at Tutu Travel, told Russia Today that flight demand from Sept 15 to Oct 28 rose 33 percent year-on-year.

An online survey by Russian consulting company Anketolog found that 72 percent of respondents expressed interest in visiting China, with 69 percent eager for more information about the country.

Regina, who has visited China around 30 times, now plans to travel every season under the new arrangement. "I will be able to spend the money I save on the visa on entertainment and shopping in China," she said.

The policy has breathed new life into China's border cities. In places such as Heihe in Heilongjiang province, Hunchun in Jilin province and Manzhouli in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, an influx of Russian tourists is transforming local economies. Shops are putting up Russian-language signs, and businesses are adjusting to cater to the new clientele.

In Heilongjiang, the General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection reported that by mid-October, more than 46,000 Russian travelers had entered the province, a 28.4 percent year-on-year increase. Of those, more than 43,000 entered visa-free.

Many Russian visitors now come not only for sightseeing but also to buy everyday items that are cheaper and of reliable quality, such as electric kettles, rice cookers and bedding sets. Even small items such as socks can cost far less in China than in Russia.

For many, the trips resemble "shopping relocations", with suitcases filled with goods returning across the border. The wave of Russian consumers has in turn boosted the local economy, including catering, accommodation and retail sectors.

Jilin Yubieer Transportation Group, which originally focused on freight, said it has now completed a business transformation. Road passenger transport now accounts for 81.15 percent of its operations, and the company plans to launch a direct service from Hunchun to Russia's Kraskino port.

Sun Shuo, general manager of the Shijia Hotel in Heihe, said the visa-free policy has driven a 30 percent increase in occupancy. A Russian-language major, Sun is compiling a phrasebook for hotel use, conducting staff members' language training and working with colleagues to design Russian signage within the hotel.

For Russians living far from the border, the policy has eliminated huge travel and financial hurdles.

Maria Kuznetsova, a student from Volgograd, previously had to take a train to Moscow to apply for a visa, with third-party agency fees ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 rubles ($193 to $257). Now, Maria views the policy as a major convenience. She plans to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Urumqi next year.

Regina, the sales manager, said: "Russia and China are close neighbors. I hope our friendly ties continue to grow stronger."

Zhuang Jiayi contributed to this story.