Amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where are Russian tourists traveling?

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has complicated overseas travel for many Russians. Numerous trips were canceled from late February to March this year due to restricted flights, concerns about payment issues abroad, and fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate.

However, by May, wealthy Russians had resumed their travel plans, primarily to the Maldives, Mauritius, and Türkiye. These are typically high-spending travelers who prefer luxury accommodations. Olga Smyschlaeva from Wanderlust Travel Studio (Russia) stated that luxury hotels in Turkey and along the Aegean coast are consistently booked by Russian guests, and it seems that "people have become accustomed to the new reality and are starting to adapt."

Even with the suspension of direct flights from Russia to Europe, many Russian tourists still find ways to reach Greece, Italy, or even further afield to France and Spain. These travelers are willing to pay for a "detour" through Turkey, Serbia, or Finland. For example, Helsinki Airport (Finland) has recently been bustling with Russian tourists. They arrive in Helsinki by land and take advantage of flights from the Finnish capital to other European countries.

Beyond Europe, Russian tourists' interest in Africa and Latin America is also increasing. Direct flights from Russia to the Seychelles in East Africa will resume from October, boosting demand despite the relatively high ticket prices. Since April of this year, Egypt has welcomed Russian tourists back to the cities of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh.

"Demand for holidays in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh with direct flights is higher than expected. The first flights after September 3rd have sold out, and tourists are actively booking tours for the autumn, including November and early 2023," said a representative of Coral Travel, a travel company in Russia.

According to Russian travel companies, the demand for African tourism has increased because the cost of a roundabout route from Russia to Europe is as expensive as a direct flight to South Africa. However, this is not a major obstacle, as wealthy Russians are willing to pay because they "want to make up for lost time." And while international transactions and payments for Russian tourists remain complex, they are not impossible.

Meanwhile, many places around the world still miss Russian tourists, from Nha Trang (Vietnam), Phuket (Thailand), Côte d'Azur (France) to Varadero (Cuba). Cyprus, where tourism and services account for up to 80% of the economy, could lose up to 2% of its GDP annually without Russian and Ukrainian tourists. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Russian tourists were the 7th largest spenders on tourism in the world, spending approximately $36 billion annually.

Previously, several countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania had floated the idea of ​​imposing strict restrictions on travel and work visas for Russian citizens. Estonia was also the first country to issue visa restrictions for Russian citizens. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced his opposition to this decision. Greece and Cyprus also held similar views.

Cyprus, home to approximately 50,000 Russian-speaking expatriates, primarily residing in Limassol, saw Russian tourists account for 25% of the island's total visitor numbers prior to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A representative from the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that European unity is the most important weapon and that all of Cyprus's partners must respect this sensitive issue.

Meanwhile, Greece saw an impressive 177% increase in air arrivals from Türkiye in July compared to 2019. This was also Greece's record year for tourism since the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the country also recorded an increase of over 200% in visitors from Serbia, many of whom were Russian citizens. Greek officials stated that the country would not consider changing the status of Russian visas or imposing the proposed restrictions.

Anh Thi