Vladimir Simonyants, deputy director-general of Rus-Tour, a travel agency in Moscow that began business with China two decades ago, said the two peoples’ traveling habits have been changing and travel agencies need to be aware of this.

Zheng Liren, general manager of Hongchen Travel Service in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, told Xinhua that Russian tourists to Zhejiang used to join tour groups and follow a packed itinerary, but in recent years more Russian guests preferred to travel at their own pace. Zheng said he especially hoped more Russian visitors will come to rural areas of Zhejiang and have more interaction with local people.

Wang Zhenping, 31, a self-employed businessman in Xiamen, Fujian province, said inadequate mutual understanding has led to Russian tourists’ limited interests in many parts of China, but he added he was optimistic the program would bring more Russian travelers to China as well as more job opportunities to him.

"I hope I can arrange home-stays for Russian guests," said Wang, who studied Russian during junior and senior high school years when most of his peers were learning English as their first foreign language.

Contact the writers at liyao@chinadaily.com.cn and zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn