Tourism expert Kotlyar: distant countries will not cause demand among Russians this summer
Photo by Giuseppe Greco / REDA&CO / Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Summer is the most popular time for Russians to travel. And high demand is expected to lead to an increase in prices for all types of recreation, especially beach holidays. Of course, most people choose Turkey for their holidays — the most familiar, budget-friendly and understandable destination, which is best aimed at the Russian-speaking tourist. However, in fact, travelers already have access to many more diverse countries with direct flights, only on one condition — the opportunity to spend more money. About where you can go in the summer of 2024, how much it will cost and why the adventures are worth it — in the material ”
“Turkey, Turkey and Turkey again”
From despair or great love, but Turkey traditionally remains the most popular destination for Russians. This is influenced by several factors at once, and the most important of them is seasonality. The Aegean coast has the most suitable weather for a vacation by the sea in summer. The same cannot be said, for example, about Thailand, which Russians chose from October to April. In the summer months, the resorts of this beach country are covered with rains, and no one wants to spend their long-awaited vacation in bad weather.
Tourist boats in the Golden Horn Bay in Istanbul and a view of the Suleymaniye Mosque, Turkey
The same thing awaits tourists on the newly opened island of Hainan, which is called Chinese Hawaii. Until the end of April, you can still fly there comfortably, but starting in June there is a risk of encountering prolonged precipitation, which sharply reduces the number of people who want to buy a tour there.
In summer, the lion’s share of foreign trips is made up of CIS countries. For example, one and a half million tourists travel to Georgia. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan are also among the sightseeing destinations. Regarding resort destinations, Turkey is the maximum sales here. Because Turkey is a hit in the summer
Maya Kotlyare Tourism Expert
The specialist noted that 40 countries with direct flights are available to Russians in total, but distant countries will not be in demand this summer. Compatriots will choose familiar and favorite places, including Egypt and the UAE, despite the 40-degree heat. Because in the mass segment there is no other choice, especially for family tourists, Kotlyar concluded.
There is something new and unexplored, but the problem is that it is expensive. Let’s say it costs 100-120 thousand rubles to fly to Morocco. There are direct flights, but they are expensive. This is for a very limited audience
Maya Kotlyare Tourism Expert
Despite the disappointing forecasts, there is a great demand for Europe, including Italy, France, Greece, Cyprus, however, difficulties await tourists here. Firstly, the logistical problems that have existed in recent years, and secondly, again, the cost.
The average Russian family with two children cannot afford a trip to Europe, because the flight alone will cost 500 thousand rubles for four people. Therefore, Italy is gradually replaced by Georgia, and France by Armenia, cheaply and angrily.
A young woman walking down the stairs of a small street in Vernazza, Italy
The mass trends are what they were, and they remain. Because tour operators promote them. This is also due to seasonality and visa-free relations. Asia is disappearing for the summer season, and the nearest resorts are coming to the fore. We have such a limited choice for the summer. Turkey, Turkey and Turkey again
Maya Kotlyare Tourism Expert
Kotlyar noticed that it is much easier to take an all-inclusive package and relax comfortably on the Aegean coast than to complicate your life and spend a lot of money on long-distance trips. However, statistics dictate one thing, but reality is quite another. Despite the huge sums for flights and accommodation, many tourists tired of Turkey want to try something new – such adventurers, for example, will rush to Africa in the summer.
Safari for the rich
African countries, although they are a luxury segment of tourism, are in demand among compatriots. We are talking about tours to Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania in combination with Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives — combined trips that allow you to visit several countries and combine safari with a vacation by the ocean.
There is a choice, if there were money
Maya Kotlyare Tourism Expert
In these countries, you can try traveling on seven-star trains (both in Africa and Latin America), helicopter flights over Zambia, over Victoria Falls. The cost of a particular tour will depend on the content — for example, there are lodges that will cost from 5-7 thousand dollars (from 450 to 630 thousand rubles). In addition, more and more countries on the continent are launching direct flights, canceling visas and offering new tours. What is so attractive about mysterious Africa?
Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Inhumane conditions in Kenya
Kenya, famous for its safaris, boasts a wide variety of animals. No special vaccinations are needed to visit the country, but it would not be superfluous to take malaria pills and mosquito spray with you. And tourists from Russia will also need a visa. It is issued online through the E-citizen platform and costs $ 50 (4,6 thousand rubles).
Usually a safari combines several parks at once, because each of them is dominated by certain animals. And in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, it will be interesting to observe the life of local residents. But it’s better not to take them on camera: the guides warn that the police don’t like it.
Nairobi, Kenya
Maxim, who visited Nairobi from the Moscow region, said that people in some areas live in inhumane conditions, but they live next to wealthy Kenyans.
This is a real slum, there are always problems with water and light. Water has to be collected and carried home manually. This, of course, is amazing. But the main thing is that right next to this you see luxury hotels and restaurants with delicious food
Maksim
According to him, in Africa, everyone is always “on chill, cheerful and charged,” so the mood is transmitted to tourists. Since Kenya is a multi-religious country, there are no restrictions on clothing, alcohol and food. But it should be borne in mind that from June to August there is a climatic “winter”, which is why it often rains, and the air temperature is 13-15 degrees. Locals wear down jackets at this time, but tourists wear shirts and T—shirts. But for safari, it is better to choose closed clothes so as not to suffer from insect bites.
What to see in Kenya
- Masai Mara National Park
- Lake Nakuru
- Amboseli National Park
- Mount Kenya
- Giraffe Center
- Mombasa Resort Town
The Mysterious Arabian Peninsula
Africa is not the only way out for those who have the money and the desire to learn new things. Now tourists are looking at the largest peninsula on the planet — the Arabian Peninsula.
There is Qatar, Bahrain, Oman. People are already looking in that direction, very good hotels are opening there. This is already a trend for family tourists
Maya Kotlyare Tourism Expert
The richest country in the Arabian Peninsula is Qatar, and all thanks to the huge oil deposits. This is a state of absolute monarchy — political parties and trade union organizations are prohibited here. But you don’t need to be scared right away: tourists in Qatar are not in danger. Moreover, it is among the safest countries in the world. Despite its conservatism, Qatar harmoniously combines cultural heritage and modern technology.
Russians do not need a visa there, but you can fly by direct flight from 50 thousand rubles per person in the summer season. Qatar offers local gastronomy, beaches, and cultural features. This is not the UAE, where only skyscrapers are made of glass and concrete, but the country, including its capital Doha, can surprise travelers.
Doha, Qatar
An important point: it will not be possible to bring alcohol there — it is forbidden. And in Qatar itself, you can hardly find it anywhere, except to order it in a restaurant — but it will cost very much. Another feature of the mentality is the dress code. It is better for men to change shorts for trousers (despite the heat), and for girls to choose the most closed clothes. No one will make comments about the appearance, but still this is the Muslim world with its own customs and rules. If they are followed, both tourists and locals will be happy.
In Doha, for less than two dollars (185 rubles), a tourist will be able to ride one of the most modern subways in the world all day without drivers. There are even gold-class carriages — they will already be much more expensive, but they are cool, stylish and beautiful. And the biggest plus is that the subway path runs through the most famous sights of the city.
To get a good taste of Doha, you need to put at least four days on the trip. Tourists usually come using the capital of Qatar as a transit point between the countries, but this is not enough to explore all the cultural characteristics of the country.
As for a beach holiday in Qatar, I would not recommend it. Firstly, all the beach hotels are located outside the city, 14-15 kilometers from the center of Doha. But you need to go to the city to see, go around all the districts, breathe in these streets, traditions, enjoy culture, cleanliness, just sit, not run anywhere
Elena from Moscow
A standard four-star hotel will cost about $100 (9.2 thousand rubles) per night. But you won’t have to spend a lot of time there, because there is something to see in Doha.
What to visit in Doha
- Doha Tower
- Qatar’s Cultural Village
- Museum of Islamic Art
- Qatar National Museum
- National Library
Cheap Europe
Russians love Italy and strive to get there, despite all the obstacles. Already, tourists are buying up vouchers and are going to spend the summer in sunny Florence or green Tuscany. And this is contrary to the forecasts of tour operators about high prices. But Europe may also be more accessible — in this case, there is an unexpected destination for summer travel.
We are talking about a country in the north of the Balkan Peninsula — Romania. But it should be borne in mind that from March 31, 2024, travelers from Russia will need Schengen visas to travel to Romania, upon receipt of which they will have to submit biometrics.
Lake Balea, Romania
But here you can admire medieval castles, listen to mysterious legends about Transylvania, and visit incredibly beautiful sandy beaches. And all this at very affordable prices compared to the rest of Europe. For example, in summer, a one-way ticket will cost from 30 thousand rubles.
I just love the legend of Count Dracula, so I went to Romania with a German friend. Do you know what I remember the most? “The Merry Cemetery.” This is a cemetery in the village of Sapynets with brightly colored tombstones
Anna
What to see in Bucharest
- Parliament Palace
- Kretsulescu Palace
- The Arc de Triomphe
- Lipskan Street
- National Museum of Arts of Romania
- Cismigiu Gardens
- Herastrau Park
Europe, where Russians are loved
Russians in Serbia are loved and expected, but this is not the most popular destination for summer holidays. However, in vain, because Belgrade alone can offer tourists a lot of interesting things, starting from gastronomy and ending with wellness holidays at thermal resorts.
Alyona, a Russian tourist who visited Serbia, noted that the locals always showed her special friendliness. “Even with a special manifestation of it, when strangers, having learned that you are from Russia, begin to communicate with you and retell their whole lives,” she concluded.
Belgrade, Serbia
An air ticket from Moscow to Belgrade, Serbia, in the summer will cost even cheaper than to Romania — only 29 thousand rubles one way. Prices within the country are slightly higher than in Russia, but everything is very high quality, the food is delicious. Belgrade is a multifaceted city. The ancient buildings here are juxtaposed with elegant architecture and untidy panels. The city is decorated with pleasant parks, modern museums and art districts, and ugly signs and parked cars everywhere spoil it.
What to see in Belgrade
- Belgrade Fortress
- Knyaz Mikhail Street
- Skadarlia Quarter
- Nikola Tesla Museum
- The Palace of Princess Lubica
Where else can Russians fly without a visa?
At the beginning of 2024, experts noticed a sharp increase in sales of foreign tours. Russians rushed to explore other countries, despite the logistical difficulties and problems with obtaining a visa.
There are different types of visas, and some of them are made easily and are relatively inexpensive. At the same time, there are many countries where Russian tourists can get to without an entry document and spend some time there legally. This is actively used by Russian travelers.
Countries with visa-free entry for Russians
- Thailand (you can stay up to 60 days)
- UAE (no more than 90 days within six months)
- Cuba (no more than 90 days)
- Maldives (no more than 90 days)
- Seychelles (no more than 30 days)
- Serbia (no more than 30 days)
- China, Hainan (no more than 30 days)
- Morocco (no more than 90 days)
- Kazakhstan (no more than 90 days)
- Armenia (no more than 180 days)
- Georgia (no more than a year)
- Belarus (no more than 90 days)
- Uzbekistan (no more than 15 days)
The Maldives will remain the most expensive in the summer of 2024, where a vacation for two adults can cost from 229 thousand rubles. Mauritius also offers premium vacations – from 271 thousand rubles, as well as Seychelles — from 273 thousand rubles.
Which tours of Russia should I choose in 2024?
Very often, Russians travel with large families with children, which makes traveling abroad not a very convenient option. Not only is it necessary to tinker with visas for the whole family, but also the trip will cost many times more expensive than in some resorts of the country. That is why Russians are increasingly choosing domestic regions for recreation.
Everyone wants to go to the sea in the summer. And in our case, this is the Krasnodar Territory, the Black Sea coast. If we are talking about the regions of the Caucasus, we also began to choose Dagestan. Accommodation facilities there are more profitable than on the Black Sea coast, so many choose the Caspian Sea
Yulia Novoseltseva Tourism Manager
By the summer season of 2024, many new hotels of completely different price categories will appear on the Black Sea coast. Local hoteliers even began to rebuild hotels that are close to Turkish in concept. They have their own spa centers, children’s clubs and their own beaches, but they still do not reach the Turkish service. If we compare the five-star hotels in Anapa and Turkey, the latter will definitely win, Yulia noted.
After the pandemic, domestic tourism began to develop very actively in Russia, and many tourists who used to go abroad now choose Russian sightseeing tours
Yulia Novoseltseva Tourism Manager
Which destinations are popular in Russia in the summer of 2024
- Saint-Petersburg
- Caucasus Regions
- Kazan
- Karelia
- Altai
- Baikal
And not always the most popular destinations are also the most expensive. According to experts, any resort can offer holidays for a completely different pocket. According to Olga Ivanova, head of public relations at the FUN& SUN tour operator, a trip to the four-star Northern Riviera near St. Petersburg for two will cost from 47 thousand rubles. And the Kaliningrad hotel “Althof” boasts an offer of 50 thousand rubles for two.
Krasnaya Polyana has a price tag of 66 thousand rubles, as well as in Derbent. At the same time, tourists will live with a magnificent view of the mountains in a double room. All these offers can be found at tour operators or go on a trip, taking care of tickets and meals yourself.
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