THE visa-free regime for trips to the Chinese island of Hainan may boost the number of Russian tourists by up to one-third this year, a Russian official said last week. “Any visa breaks give us 10 to 30 percent of growth,” Yury Barzykin, vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, said in an interview with Xinhua. China put a visa-free policy into effect on May 1 this year, which allows visitors from 59 countries to enter Hainan Province and stay there for 30 days visa-free. Barzykin said Hainan is one of the most promising destinations for Russian tourists. He said the developed infrastructure, various levels of hotels, comprehensive travel packages, picturesque beaches, sophisticated cuisine, original culture and cordiality make Hainan very attractive. In 2017, more than 280,000 Russians visited Hainan during the winter holiday, including the New Year and Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7, Barzykin said. (Xinhua) | 