MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. It will take at least three years for the tourist flow from China to Russia to return to pre-covid level, Zarina Doguzova, a member of the expert council under the government of the Russian Federation, said on Monday. She added that during this period it is necessary to complete the "whitewashing" of this market segment.

"After the opening of China, we will see pent-up demand for Russia - first of all, for cultural and educational trips to Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as for ecological destinations in the regions of the Far East and the North. However, it will not be possible to quickly return to pre-covid indicators. This may take at least three years. During this time, it is necessary to complete the whitewashing of this market segment so that the money from Chinese tourists visiting Russia remains in the country," she wrote in her Telegram channel.

It is also necessary to increase the number of solvent Chinese tourists so that the average check increases and, accordingly, the income of Russian business grows, Doguzova emphasized. Chinese tourists can play a key role in restoring inbound tourism to Russia, she said. Before the pandemic, tourists from China ranked first in terms of visiting Russia and spending money there.

Earlier, the press service of the Economic Development Ministry reported that Russia and China have resumed the agreement on visa-free group tourist trips.

On February 6, China resumed tourist trips for organized groups of travelers, including to Russia on a pilot basis. However, as representatives of the Russian tourism industry noted, in order to fully resume tourism between Russia and China, the parties need to renew the agreement on visa-free group tourist trips.