Source link : https://london-news.net/chinese-tourists-stream-into-russia-a-mixed-blessing-for-local-hosts/
**ST. PETERSBURG** — On a recent train journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg, a significant portion of the carriage was filled with travelers hailing from China.
This diverse group, representing various age groups, was headed to Russia’s historical capital as part of an organized tour, marking one of the first such arrivals since the Russian government lifted visa requirements for Chinese visitors last month.
The train conductor, an imposing woman in her 50s, walked the aisle with a discontented demeanor, occasionally speaking to herself.
“Why did your fellow countrymen laugh at me when I requested to check their passports again?” she questioned the tour guide, a Chinese man fluent in Russian. “You all need to act properly.”
The guide merely shrugged in response.
“These tourists from China exhibit absolutely no decorum,” the conductor remarked during a break at the station. “Yet there are some positives. They even pay for hot water, perhaps due to their customs or maybe they don’t realize it’s complimentary.”
After enduring disruptions from the pandemic and conflicts stemming from the invasion of Ukraine, Chinese tourists are returning to Russia, driven by a new regulation allowing visa-free travel.
Their return has been welcomed by Russia’s beleaguered tourism sector, although it has reignited familiar tensions with locals regarding cultural differences, concerns of overcrowding, and economic challenges.
The decree signed by President Vladimir…
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Author : rimmaruslan98@gmail.com
Publish date : 2026-01-23 12:49:00
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