ATOR explains the conditions for the start of visa-free travel to China

The announcement of the resumption of the agreement on the visa-free exchange of tourists between RUSSIA and CHINA does not yet mean the start of work on sending tourist groups from both sides, RBC was told in the Association of Tour Operators of Russia.

ATOR explained that in order to resume visa-free travel, Moscow and Beijing must exchange lists of tour operators that can send tourists under a bilateral agreement. Now the process of settling technical issues is underway, the Russian regulator is waiting for a list of authorized tour operators from Chinese colleagues.

However, even the provision of the lists will not mean the resumption of visa-free travel, the association stressed. To do this, both parties must set a date from which they can begin to form groups for visa-free exchange. “The next step to resume a full-fledged tourist flow between China and Russia has been taken, but it is not enough, we are waiting for the date,” ATOR summed up.

Experts interviewed by the association believe that China will consider the lists no earlier than the middle or even the end of March 2023. As long as Russian citizens can enter the territory of the PRC, if they already have a valid visa, new documents are not issued.

Russia and China signed an agreement on visa-free group tours in 2000. The agreement allows organized tourists in a group of five to 50 people to visit a neighboring country on the lists without obtaining a visa and stay there for up to 15 days. The agreement was suspended due to the covid pandemic.