How do Russian travelers choose their vacation destinations in the leisure travel market?
According to the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, in 2018, Russian citizens traveled outside the country on more than 44 million trips, which is 6.1% higher than the previous year’s figure of nearly 42 million trips.
According to the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, in 2018, the top 10 countries that most Russians visited outside of their bordering countries were:
- Turkey (5.719 million, with a 26% increase from 2017)
- Germany (1.297 million, with a 5% increase)
- Thailand (1.173 million, with a 7% increase)
- Italy (1.086 million, with a 22% increase)
- Spain (961 thousand, with a 3% increase)
- United Arab Emirates (941 thousand, with a 23% increase)
- Cyprus (826 thousand, with a 5% decrease)
- Greece (808 thousand, with a 6% decrease)
- Tunisia (611 thousand, with a 17% increase)
- Vietnam (531 thousand, with a 4% increase)
The bar graph displays the top 20 countries of the far abroad, excluding bordering countries, which are the most popular destinations among travelers.
Size of Russian Leisure Travel Market in 2018
If we examine the Top 20 countries of the far abroad with regards to Russians traveling for tourism purposes, we can observe some changes.
The popularity of Turkey among Russian tourists can be attributed to its affordable prices, high-quality service, all-inclusive hotels, short flights, and visa-free regime. These factors are particularly appealing to families looking for a seaside vacation.
It is worth noting that 9 out of the top 10 most popular countries among Russian tourists are known for their beach tourism. This could explain why Germany’s popularity has decreased in terms of tourism among Russians, dropping from second place overall to sixth place in terms of travel for tourism purposes.
If we look at the proportion of Russians who travel abroad for leisure purposes, the top 5 countries are as follows:
- Tunisia, with 88% of Russians visiting the country for tourism.
- Montenegro, with 82%.
- Greece, with 80%.
- Bulgaria, with 79%.
- UAE, with 78%.
In addition to beach tourism, which is a clear criterion for choosing a leisure destination for the majority of Russian tourists, countries that can be visited without a visa are also attractive to Russians. Turkey, Thailand, UAE, Tunisia, Vietnam, Montenegro, and South Korea become even more appealing to Russian travelers, especially when it comes to unplanned vacations where there is no time for visa processing.
Where Are Russian Tourists Vacationing in 2019? A Look at the Latest Leisure Travel Market Trends
A recent poll conducted by Romir research holding revealed that for the upcoming year of 2019, approximately one third of Russians (36%) are planning to spend their vacation by the sea or other bodies of water. Additionally, the poll showed that 17% of Russians are interested in cultural recreation, while 16% are attracted to ecotourism such as hiking, fishing, and rafting. Only 8% of respondents are considering mountain ski resorts as their vacation destination.
The Romir poll also indicated that beach holidays are most popular among the youth demographic of 18-24 years old, with 53% of respondents from this group expressing interest in vacationing near water. In contrast, individuals over the age of 60 are less likely to choose a vacation by water, with only 10% of respondents from this group expressing such desire.
17% of the survey respondents expressed interest in spending their vacation productively by visiting cultural sites such as museums, monuments, and other attractions. The middle-aged category (35-44 years old) showed a slightly higher preference for this type of recreation, with 23% expressing interest.
Ecotourism, which includes activities such as hiking, fishing, and rafting, is relatively popular among survey respondents, with 16% indicating they plan to spend their vacation this way. Men were twice as likely to choose ecotourism as a preferred vacation option, with 22% compared to 11% among women.
14% of respondents plan to improve their health by spending their vacation at health resorts. This type of recreation is most popular among the 60+ age group and individuals with high income.
Only a small percentage, 8%, of Russians are interested in skiing vacations. This type of vacation is more appealing to younger people, with 15% of respondents aged 18-24 indicating an interest in winter sports.
The preference of Russian tourists for seaside vacations is reflected in the early tour booking trends for 2019, as reported by Intourist tour operator. The most popular foreign destinations for Russian tourists, such as Turkey and Greece, are leading in terms of the pace of early bookings, while demand for Bulgaria has significantly decreased.
If you want to learn more about the Russian travel market, you can download our Russian Tourism Market Report: Trends, Analysis & Statistics study to gain insights into the market environment and strategies for attracting Russian tourists to your country.