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Foreign tourist arrivals to Russia rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with Türkiye ranking among the top three source countries.
Visitors continued to show strong interest in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and the Baikal region.
According to data from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATORUS), more than 290,000 foreign tourists visited the country between January and March, marking a 28% increase compared with the same period last year. China led the list, followed by Turkmenistan and Türkiye.
Chinese travelers made up the largest foreign visitor group in Russia during the first three months of the year, with arrivals from China exceeding 154,000.
Industry representatives linked this growth to the visa-free travel system between the two countries.
Chinese tourists were reported to have concentrated mainly in major cities, particularly Moscow and St. Petersburg, where cultural tours and city trips stood out as key travel preferences.
Turkmenistan ranked second with 20,500 visitors, while Türkiye followed in third place with nearly 17,000 visitors.
Tourism representatives also noted that arrivals from Saudi Arabia and India contributed to Russia’s inbound tourism performance. Visitors from these countries were reported to be more focused on shopping and cultural tourism.
Russia’s major urban centers continued to pull in foreign tourists, with Moscow and St. Petersburg standing out as the most popular destinations.
At the same time, Kazan and the Baikal region have also started to gain more visibility among international visitors.
Sector representatives said these areas are becoming stronger attractions because of their cultural and natural tourism appeal, while the area around Lake Baikal has drawn particular interest from nature-focused travelers.
Russian tourism representatives expect the upward trend to continue through 2026, supported by visa-free travel arrangements and expanding flight connections.
The sector expects visitor numbers from China, Central Asia and Gulf countries to keep rising over the course of the year, adding further momentum to Russia’s inbound tourism market.
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