MOSCOW - Russian tourists are expected to make over 2 million trips to China in 2025, prompted by China's trial visa-free policy for Russian citizens, an industry leader said Wednesday.

The introduction of the visa-free policy is expected to boost tourist flows by 40 percent in September and October, said Maya Lomidze, executive director of Russia's Association of Tour Operators.

China, she said, is steadily rising to become the second-largest destination for Russian tourists after Türkiye, with tourist trips expected to exceed 2 million.

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Meanwhile, the Russian tourism sector is eager to welcome Moscow's reciprocal measures. Lomidze believes that the potential introduction of Russia's visa-free policy will immediately increase Chinese tourist flows, especially in border regions.

On Sept 2, China announced a trial visa-free policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports, effective from Sept 15, 2025, to Sept 14, 2026.

Russian citizens holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends or exchange visits and transit for no more than 30 days can enter China visa-free.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the policy, noting Moscow will respond in kind to this friendly measure.