Nearly 90% of Russian tourists prefer summer trips within the country. Popular destinations among travelers include Sochi, Moscow, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, and Mineralnye Vody.
Experts surveyed by RT note a high demand for hotels and domestic flights due to the good value for money. However, with the decrease in flight prices abroad, Russians have also shown increased interest in international destinations.
The majority of Russian tourists plan to spend their vacation within the country this summer. According to the Tutu service, approximately 90% of plane tickets for the period from June to August are booked for domestic flights.
Sochi, Moscow, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, and Mineralnye Vody are the most popular destinations for the upcoming summer season. Additionally, Russians will travel to Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Makhachkala, and Novosibirsk this summer.
According to Ostrovok service, among the most in-demand destinations are Anapa, Volgograd, Zelenogradsk, and Nizhny Novgorod. Moreover, interest in certain destinations has significantly increased compared to last year. For example, bookings in Kazan increased by 40%, in Sochi and Gelendzhik by 24%, and in Kislovodsk by 23%.
Holidaymakers prefer to choose rooms in more luxurious hotels, especially five-star ones that offer all-inclusive packages. Nearly 50% of hotels in popular resorts are already booked.
Russians have shown an active interest in domestic travel even during the coronavirus pandemic when international travel was restricted. This has prompted the hotel industry to build more accommodation facilities and develop new routes.
According to OneTwoTrip, the average cost of a one-way flight within Russia to popular resorts ranges from 9,000 to 12,000 rubles, slightly higher than in 2023, but price growth remains below inflation.
Flight tickets abroad have become more affordable for Russians lately. For example, one-way flights to Istanbul have decreased from 25,000 to 20,000 rubles, to Tbilisi from 23,000 to 18,000 rubles, and to Tokyo from 40,000 to 28,000 rubles.
Comparing accommodation costs, a night in Russian hotels averages around 5,200 rubles, while abroad it’s about 8,300 rubles.
Tourists most often choose Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Indonesia, and Kyrgyzstan. Turkey, France, Japan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan also remain popular destinations.
Experts note that outbound tourism has recovered by more than 60% after the coronavirus pandemic. In Europe, unorganized tourism prevails, where travelers purchase tickets and accommodation themselves. Tours to the UAE also remain popular, especially in summer when tour operators offer discounts due to the heat. Egypt is also in demand among compatriots, especially among families with children.