Support The Moscow Times!

All Top Travel Destinations Face Decline in Russian Tourists

Experts warn that tourist numbers from Russia will continue to fall.

A drop in Russian tourists caused by the devaluation of the ruble affected all top travel destinations during the summer months, the RBC newspaper reported Thursday.

Out of 35 popular travel destinations included in the study, the biggest decline in Russian tourists was seen in the Dominican Republic and Mexico with 63 percent and 58 percent fewer Russian visitors vacationing in these countries compared to the same month last year, RBC said.

More Russians are being forced to give up international travel due to the weak ruble, which has made foreign travel less affordable.

A sharp fall in the number of tourists has been seen even in Turkey and Egypt, two of the most popular destinations for Russians.

According to data from RBC's study, the number of Russian tourists in Turkey fell by 18 percent in August compared to the same month last year.

The number of Russian tourists visiting Egypt fell by 15 percent during the same period.

Experts warn that tourist numbers from Russia will continue to fall.

Maya Lomidze, executive director of Russia's Tour Operators Association (ATOR), told RBC that in the period from October to January the number of Russians traveling abroad could be up to 30 percent smaller than the same period last year.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more