Russians who decide to holiday in their home country prefer to spend summer vacations in local resorts on the Black Sea, as well as Moscow and St. Petersburg. Turkey is the next on the list of places to visit for a relaxing summer getaway.

Russia: 2019 travel statistics

According to Interfax, Russians prefer domestic tourism.

Analysts of Yandex.Travel internet service found the most popular countries and resorts among Russians during summer 2019.

In June 2019, more than half of travel queries (53%) were about tours to local destinations and resorts, primarily to Sochi, Anapa and Gelendzhik as well as to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The next in popularity was Turkey, which accounted for almost 15% of all search queries.

Yandex users were significantly less interested in Italy and Greece (2.5% each), Spain (2.2%), Tunisia (1.9%), Cyprus (1.7%), Abkhazia (1.5%), Georgia and Thailand (1.1% each).

Among other world destinations the most attractive places for 39% of Russians were the Middle East and North Africa such as Turkey, Tunisia, and United Arab Emirates.

Europe (e.g. Italy, Greece and Spain) attracted 35% of Russians, followed by former Soviet republics, so-called “Near Abroad” (e.g. Abkhazia, Georgia and Belarus), which was searched by 12% of users.

Fewer queries (9%) were in regards to the East and South Asian countries such as Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

North and Central Americas (e.g. USA, Dominican Republic, Cuba) interested only 4% of seekers, and only 1% of Russians had interest in other regions such as Australia, Tanzania, or Seychelles.

The top 15 list of foreign destinations includes Turkish Kemer, Alanya, Side, Antalya, Belek and Marmaris. The list mostly includes seaside resorts with a couple of exceptions such as Paris and Istanbul.

In June 2019, more than half of the tourist requests (53%) concerned tours to Russian cities.

The impact of the 2014 crisis

According to Yandex press service, “In the course of brief period the interest of Russian people in travelling has undergone a few changes. Yandex analysts have been assessing the development of Russian travel industry for the past six years starting from the end of 2014, which was marked by the [economic] crisis and a sharp fall of ruble”.

“The data for the following (2015) year showed 10% reduction in demand for travel. Over the next few years the interest in travel began growing again and returned to the pre-crisis level only in 2017. According to statistics for the summer of 2019, demand of Russians for travelling increased by 20% in comparison to 2014 figures”, the Yandex spokesperson pointed out.

Analytics point out that the 2014 crisis adversely affected many foreign destinations that could not mount a comeback on Russian travel market. Thus, Spain, Greece, Italy, and the Czech Republic are now not as desirable for Russians as before. But the interest of Russians in the sector of domestic travel has shown a sharp rise and tripled as compared to the beginning of the assessed period.

“In addition, during past five years a share of seaside holidays has significantly dropped. In 2019 the majority of Russians feel more attracted by thermal resorts or active recreation in domestic places like Karelia, Altai, and Krasnaya Polyana”, Yandex experts concluded.

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