The economic conditions caused by the special military operation in Ukraine and drone attacks have fundamentally changed the summer vacation habits of Russian citizens. While residents of large cities struggle with limited flights and visa obstacles, a significant portion of the rural population has been completely deprived of the opportunity to take a vacation.
Traveling to Europe has now become a major logistical challenge. To reach cities that were accessible by direct flights before the war, multiple layovers are now required. Visa restrictions, financial isolation, and frequent airport closures due to drone threats further complicate the process. Lyubov Chuchmayeva from PAKS tour company said, "Rome, Madrid or Paris still hold a place in the hearts of Russian tourists, but reaching these cities today is a major challenge for the logistics department."
The inaccessibility of the West has made the Kremlin's pivot to Asia and Africa attractive for some Russians. China's extension of visa-free entry for Russian tourists until the end of 2027 is expected to increase bookings by 50 percent this year. Hong Kong, Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island and Tanzania are also among the increasingly popular routes. A personal trainer from Moscow said, "The restrictions of countries that require visas did not affect me; I don't like vacationing in Europe anyway. I spend my vacation in Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia."
For those living in the countryside, domestic tourism remains the only realistic option. According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), in 2025 more than 80 percent of Russians arranged their vacations independently. However, the withdrawal of global low-cost airlines and accommodation platforms from the market has driven even experienced travelers to tour operators.
The traditional Russian resort of Crimea is suffering heavy losses this year. Hotel bookings in May and June fell by 30 percent compared to last year; tour companies lost a total of 1.5 billion rubles ($18.8 million) in June alone due to canceled tours. The acute fuel shortage following Ukraine's attacks on supply routes and refineries led to the closure of airports on the peninsula and a halving of train services. The Russian government allocated 4.3 billion rubles ($56.3 million) from its reserve fund to support Crimean tourism after the crisis.
Some vacationers are choosing Anapa over Crimea. The beaches of Anapa, where thousands of tons of oil washed ashore after two tankers were damaged in the Kerch Strait in 2024, were reopened this year with the approval of consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. However, local residents are still finding fresh oil slicks on the coast. While Anapa is trying to recover, hotel bookings in Sochi, Russia's flagship Black Sea resort, have fallen by up to 25 percent year-on-year.
According to data from online booking agency TravelLine, hotel bookings nationwide fell by 12 percent in the last two weeks of June, while the cancellation rate rose from 24 percent to 33 percent. The number of tourists visiting Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake, also decreased by a third due to price increases.
Many Russians, however, have completely shelved the idea of taking a vacation. A political activist in the Volga region said that with a monthly income of 40,000 rubles ($500), a package tour to Turkey starting at 120,000 rubles is a dream. A village teacher summed up the situation: "Very few people here can afford to go on vacation. The summer holiday season for us is time for haymaking, gardening and harvesting."
