Direct Flights From China to Kamchatka and Altai Are Now Being Proposed

Russia's tourism ministry has proposed launching direct flights from China to Kamchatka, Altai, Tyumen and the Russian North, after mutual tourist flow between the two countries doubled to 825,000 people in Q1 2026.

Russian Deputy Economic Development Minister Dmitry Vakhrukov proposed launching direct flights from China to four priority Russian regions — Kamchatka, Altai, Tyumen and the Russian North — during talks with China's tourism ministry in July 2026. None of these destinations currently has direct air service from China, despite what officials describe as tourism infrastructure already being in place to receive visitors.

The proposal follows a strong first quarter for bilateral tourism: mutual tourist flow between Russia and China reached 825,000 people in Q1 2026, roughly double the same period the year before, driven in part by an expanded visa-free regime and closer cooperation between travel agencies in both countries.

Kamchatka's volcanic landscapes and Altai's mountains are both well-known within Russia but have historically been harder for international visitors to reach than Moscow or St. Petersburg — a direct flight route, if it materializes, would be a genuine change rather than a marginal one for anyone hoping to visit either region from abroad.