Popular destinations in Russia
During the summer, flight destinations like Simferopol, Mineralnye Vody, Anapa, Kaliningrad, Vladikavkaz, and Yekaterinburg topped the charts. The SberSpasibo loyalty program’s press service shared these insights with socialbites.ca. Rail travel in June through August 2022 showed strong interest in Kazan, Kislovodsk, Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Anapa, Rostov-on-Don, and Petrozavodsk.
Hotels saw high demand in Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, and Gelendzhik, with the Krasnodar Territory also remaining a leader. Ilya Umansky, vice-president of the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), noted that this region consistently attracts many visitors despite rising costs for recreation. Overall, demand for excursions across Russia remained solid according to his assessment.
Demand levels appeared close to last year, with some declines tied to transport disruptions. Airport closures in the country’s south, along with shortages in rail and other transport options, reshaped how people traveled. Crimea, in particular, faced a noticeable shortfall, with reservations down roughly half from the previous year.
Travel to Anapa and Gelendzhik dipped about 20% due to flight cancellations. Yet, tourists shifted to nearby, car-accessible resorts and explored regions that were closer to home. Increases were observed in Moscow, the Vladimir, Tver, Yaroslavl, Leningrad regions, and Karelia as travelers sought convenient getaways.
Umansky emphasized a positive trend: Russians were increasingly substituting beach holidays with journeys to distinctive, less-visited places within the country. This shift highlighted a growing interest in discovering extraordinary locales while staying closer to home.
In the broader context of domestic travel, ATOR highlighted that the volume of travelers inside Russia has historically exceeded outbound journeys. This year appears to follow that pattern, with a notable tilt toward new types of tourism. Glamping and ecotourism are gaining traction, and lawmakers are considering a bill to define glamping and support the creation of eco-friendly lodging, including eco-hotels. The deputy overseeing tourism infrastructure believes these efforts will boost the availability of glamping across Russia in the near future, offering memorable ways to connect with nature.
Natalia Osipova, executive director of the Association of Travel Agencies (ATA), pointed to sanatorium stays as an important option for Russians, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Spa and wellness centers saw rising demand as travelers look to improve health and, in some cases, address lingering post-pandemic concerns. Regions like Krasnodar Territory, Mineralnye Vody, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, and Essentuki were popular destinations for spa retreats.
Osipova also noted strong interest in summer trips to Chechnya, Dagestan, and South Ossetia, with travelers seeking natural scenery and cultural attractions. There was continued interest in Altai and Kamchatka, and automobile tourism across the federation continued to grow as a flexible, self-guided way to explore a wide range of landscapes and communities.
Trips abroad
The SberSpasibo loyalty program reported that Russians traveling abroad booked hotels in Istanbul, Minsk, and Dubai, with many planning visits to Baku. Osipova added that beyond Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Abkhazia were among the most requested foreign destinations. Overall outbound tourism showed signs of easing after reductions in the previous period.
Travelers noted a 20-25% decline in outbound trips compared with last year, according to Umansky. He attributed this to destinations becoming less accessible, higher airfares, and safety concerns that affected traveler confidence. Still, there were signs of recovery as routes to Turkey and Egypt resumed, and new access to other destinations began to emerge. Connections through intermediate cities were sometimes necessary due to travel restrictions, though the trend toward international exploration remained resilient for many travelers.
Direct flights to Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates stayed available, and nonstop services persisted for those heading to destinations like the Maldives and Seychelles. European trips remained popular for those holding visas, though some itineraries required layovers in third-party hubs. Travelers were advised that adjustments to travel plans might be needed as the network of routes continued to adapt.
Regarding costs, Krivonosov noted that domestic vacations could offer better value as a way to stabilize expenses amid fluctuating exchange rates. Umansky observed that modest increases in domestic travel costs could occur due to currency dynamics and hotel import costs, but overall price shifts remained manageable as the season progressed. Osipova highlighted that international travel could be 15-30% more expensive because of longer flight routes and higher overflight charges, with final costs varying by property, ticket, and airline. Crimea, by contrast, faced lower prices due to transport difficulties, though demand remained high and tickets often sold out quickly as people preferred car travel when trains were scarce.