Violations were found in companies working with tourists from China in Vladivostok

In Vladivostok, violations were again found in the work of tour operators who interact with Chinese tourists. Tour operators may be excluded from the register. The inspection was carried out by employees of the regional Ministry of Tourism.

Cooperation with Chinese tourist groups is conducted within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and China.

According to PrimaMedia news agency, the raid took place in the area of the Military Glory of the Pacific Fleet memorial and the Marine Excursion Center on Korabelnaya Embankment, one of the most visited places by tourists.

Of the seven groups tested, two were found to have violations. One was left without a Russian guide, and the Chinese guide told tourists false information about the city. In the second case, the group leader behaved aggressively and did not have an identity card with him, so the tourist police had to intervene. In this group, Chinese citizens were also unaccompanied by the Russian side.

The agency clarifies that Chinese groups can stay in Russia without visas under the 2000 agreement, but only if they are accompanied by a Russian tour operator. Guided tours must be conducted only by a certified Russian guide-translator.

Since the beginning of May, when the updated register of tour operators came into force, three seaside companies have been excluded from it for such violations.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 1,000 tourists from China have entered Primorye on the visa-free list.

At the end of September, the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development told Izvestia that the number of trips by foreign citizens in 2024 increased by almost half compared to last year - by 45.5%, to 2.3 million. Currently, direct flights to Russia are available from 37 countries around the world. Citizens of the Middle East and Asia began to visit Russia more actively. Saudi Arabia's tourist flow to Russia increased 12-fold, Oman and Kuwait's increased six-fold, the UAE's increased four-fold, and China's increased almost as much.