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From Northern Lights to Seaside Soviet Sights, Russia Beckons Chinese Tourists

© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankChinese tourists are welcomed in the port of Vladivostok as China's Taishan cruise ship arrived in Vladivostok.file photo
Chinese tourists are welcomed in the port of Vladivostok as China's Taishan cruise ship arrived in Vladivostok.file photo - Sputnik International
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An unprecedented growth in Chinese tourism shows no signs of abating in Russia, with destinations ranging from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Sochi, Crimea and even the northern city of Murmansk.

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2016 saw a 34-percent increase in Chinese tourism in Russia; as many as 275,000 toured the country in the first six months of this year.

In an interview with Sputnik, Svetlana Pyatikhatka, executive director of the tourist association Mir Bez Granits (World Without Borders), said that the fall of the ruble played a positive role in prompting the Chinese to visit Russia.

"As a result, the cost of a tour became much cheaper for Chinese tourists, who perceive Russia as the nearest European country. And when they arrive in Russia, they tick the box that they have visited Europe," Pyatikhatka said.

She also noted that just like other tourists, the Chinese don't just come to Russia to learn more about the world, but to shop as well.

© Sputnik / Evgeny Yepanchintsev / Go to the mediabankPassengers of the tourist train "The Great Tea Road Manchuria - Siberia" at the railway station in Russia's Zabaikalsk
Passengers of the tourist train The Great Tea Road Manchuria - Siberia at the railway station in Russia's Zabaikalsk - Sputnik International
Passengers of the tourist train "The Great Tea Road Manchuria - Siberia" at the railway station in Russia's Zabaikalsk

"Compared to Europe, many goods are now cheaper in Russia, which prods Chinese tourists to embark on a shopping trip to Russia," she said.

The second major factor is the agreement on visa-free group tours which allows tourists from China to travel in groups of five to 50 people, staying in Russia for up to 15 days, according to her.

"And, of course, the favorable political atmosphere between the governments of our countries helps to increase the flow of tourists from China," Pyatikhatka said.

She added that apart from Moscow and St. Petersburg, Chinese tourists also visit more distant regions of Russia, a trend that has been in place since 2015.

"They travel to Lake Baikal, Kamchatka, Crimea and they are interested in seeing northern Russian cities, such as Murmansk.  Legend has it that if a person sees Northern Lights, he will be happy for the rest of his life. Other destinations include Yakutia, which is world famous for its diamonds, and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, known for its amber," she said.

Pyatikhatka also underscored that Chinese tourists are interested in Russia's Soviet communist history, and that they like to visit places of interest related to so-called "red tourism".

Of course, they also travel to Sochi and Crimea even though beach vacations aren't common among the Chinese, Pyatikhatka said. According to her, many preferred eco-tourism and were attracted to natural landscapes, fresh air and Russian nature, which cannot be compared to that of China.

As for the Soviet legacy, Crimea-based historical warships with Soviet stars on board are especially interesting to Chinese tourists, Pyatikhatka said.

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Apart from the expansion of the geography of Chinese tourists' visits to Russia, the seasonality of their trips also shows signs of growing, according to her.

"Earlier, Chinese tourism was restricted to the period between May and September, something that has expanded significantly over the past few years. Contributing to such an enlargement was a whole array of culture, sport and business events," she said.

Pyatikhatka concluded by praising the improvement in tourism-related infrastructure throughout the country, where a lot of pedestrian zones have appeared in the past couple of years. Specially-adapted services for Chinese tourists have already been put in place.

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