Winter Tourism Patterns in Russia and Nearby Regions
During the winter season spanning December through March, demand for Russian ski resorts rose noticeably. Industry observers tracked a 15% increase in interest compared to the previous year, with travel data compiled from major aggregators and media outlets. The shift highlights a growing preference for domestic and regional destinations among winter travelers, reflecting broader trends in travel planning and consumer confidence.
Following this surge, Krasnaya Polyana emerged as the most popular destination, attracting a sizable share of trips. Roughly 58% of the tours highlighted in the latest round of traveler data pointed to this resort cluster. Dombai also drew a strong number of visitors, accounting for about 20% of the holiday bookings. Remaining interest spread across other well-known locales such as the Elbrus region, Sheregesh, and Arkhyz, each drawing a portion of the winter travel crowd with unique ski and scenery offerings.
Forecasts from a set of travel technology providers and planning platforms pointed to a trend in short, focused getaways during the summer as well. The analysis suggested that many vacationers would opt for micro-trips that skip a full vacation block, instead using long weekends or brief breaks to explore nearby or regional spots while staying close to home base.
In the summer planning outlook, almost half of survey respondents indicated a preference for brief multi-day trips to cities or regions near their residence. A substantial portion, about one in five, expressed an interest in visiting more distant metropolitan areas or regions within Russia. Among the cities with high traveler interest, the northern capital and the major hubs along the Black Sea coast were frequently mentioned, highlighting a mix of cultural experiences and outdoor activities that appeal to weekend travelers.
Looking further back, seasonal travel patterns show that in March a notable share of Russians opted for international getaways, with Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Kazakhstan among the preferred international destinations for outbound trips. This reflects ongoing diversification of travel portfolios among Russian travelers, balancing domestic adventures with cross-border experiences when conditions and pricing align with the travel calendar.