Russians Are Ditching Domestic Vacations: Hotel Demand Plummets 20%

Sharp Decline in Russia’s Domestic Tourism Market

According to Главком: A growing number of Russians are canceling or avoiding trips to the Krasnodar region, signaling a broader downturn in domestic travel interest. According to data from the travel service Travelline, hotel bookings in the Krasnodar region for the May holidays dropped by 20.7% compared to the same period last year. Nationwide, hotel reservations from April 27 to May 11 fell by 11.1% year-over-year.

This slump is not limited to the Krasnodar region. For example:

• In the Nizhny Novgorod region, demand fell by 19.7%
• In the Yaroslavl region, it dropped by 19.5%
• In occupied Crimea, demand decreased by 14.2%

These figures point to a widespread decline in enthusiasm for domestic travel across Russia. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia estimates overall demand has fallen by roughly 15%.

Key Factors Behind the Tourism Slump

Meanwhile, the average cost of hotel accommodation has edged down by 2.2%, now sitting at 9,800 rubles per night. One major reason for the drop in visitors to popular destinations like Sochi is the frequent closure of airports and flight cancellations caused by drone strikes. In Tuapse, following drone attacks, local authorities urged residents near an oil refinery to evacuate due to a massive fire.

Vladimir Putin expressed concern over drone strikes on Russia’s energy facilities, stating that 'attacks on infrastructure in Tuapse pose a threat to the region’s environmental safety.'

These developments highlight the serious challenges facing the country’s tourism industry amid rising tensions.

The shrinking appetite for domestic travel in Russia can be linked to several factors, particularly security risks in regions that have traditionally drawn tourists. Frequent drone attacks and transportation infrastructure problems have significantly reduced the appeal of destinations such as the Krasnodar region and Crimea. This could have severe economic repercussions for areas that have relied heavily on tourism revenue.