Russian Outbound Tourism Surges, Driven by Ruble Strength and Easing Travel Routes

Russian citizens spent nearly $50 billion on travel abroad in 2025, approaching a record high, fueled by a stronger ruble and improved flight connections. This represents a significant increase in outbound tourism, according to preliminary data from the Central Bank of Russia as reported by The Moscow Times.

Spending Reaches Near-Record Levels

Imports of services in the ‘Travel’ category, which reflects spending by Russians abroad, totaled $49.7 billion. This figure is just shy of the 2014 record of $50.4 billion and marks the second-highest amount since the Central Bank of Russia began collecting this data in 2001. Spending increased by more than 25%, or $10.9 billion, compared to 2024.

December saw peak spending at $5.67 billion, widening the services trade deficit to nearly double its November level. The Central Bank of Russia attributes this surge to the traditional increase in outbound tourism at the complete of the year, reflected in higher imports of travel-related services.

Impact on Balance of Payments

The increase in travel spending has noticeably impacted Russia’s broader balance of payments. Exports of tourism services – spending by foreign visitors to Russia – only increased by $1.3 billion to $8.9 billion, although the negative balance in the category increased by $9.5 billion.

The Central Bank of Russia cited lower exports alongside relatively stable imports and a sharp increase in services imports as key reasons for the one-third drop in the current account surplus in 2025, falling to $41.4 billion from $62.6 billion – equivalent to 2% of GDP compared to 3% the previous year.

Popular Destinations and Travel Trends

Data from the Russian border service indicates a 15.6% increase in tourist trips abroad, reaching 13.4 million. In total, Russians traveled abroad 31.5 million times in 2025, an 8% year-on-year increase.

Turkey remains the most popular destination, with 4.61 million trips, a 3% year-on-year increase. The United Arab Emirates (1.72 million, up 17%), Egypt (1.62 million, up 36%), China (1.36 million, up 34%), and Thailand (885,760) also proved popular. Thailand was the only major destination to experience a decline, with trips down 5.3%.

Organized tourism is growing at a faster rate than the overall market. Sales of package tours abroad increased by 25-30%, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), citing data from tour aggregator Sletat.ru and major operators. Key growth drivers include a stronger ruble and the development of more convenient routes, including direct long-haul flights to destinations like Vietnam, China, Cuba, and Oman.

China’s decision to allow Russian tourists visa-free entry in September significantly boosted travel to the country, multiplying tour sales. Improved transit links through China have also facilitated increased travel to South Korea and Japan, both considered relatively accessible in terms of visa procedures for Russians.

Market participants anticipate a minimum 25% increase in tourist flows to Japan following the opening of visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg this month, with cherry blossom tour sales already up 30-40%. Egypt experienced some of the strongest growth, with major operators and aggregators estimating sales increases of 30-50%, and the industry association reporting a 36% increase.

Sales to Vietnam jumped significantly after charter flights to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc resumed. Tour operators reported that prices for most foreign destinations remained close to 2024 levels, and even decreased in some cases, such as China and Vietnam. Conversely, domestic holidays have become more expensive.

Domestic Tourism Declines

According to the state statistics agency Rosstat, accommodation prices in Russia rose by over 9% year-on-year in the first 11 months, with sanatorium stays increasing by 11%. Prices for trips abroad rose by 4.6% over the same period.

While official full-year domestic tourism figures are not yet available, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko reported a 5% year-on-year increase in trips to Russia, reaching 82.9 million in the first 11 months. However, sales of organized domestic tours fell by 11%, according to the association of tour operators.

Industry figures attribute the slowdown in domestic tourism largely to a drop in visitors to Krasnodar Krai, particularly Anapa, where beaches remain closed following a fuel spill in late 2024. ATOR estimates tourist flows to the region were down 15%, including a 72% drop in Anapa and approximately 4% in Sochi.

Rising airfares and lodging costs across the country also contributed to decreased demand. Tours to the Krasnodar Territory last summer were, on average, 15-20% more expensive than the previous year, according to ATOR. Travelers are increasingly opting for budget hotels and apartments to reduce costs.

Limited infrastructure also played a role. Visitors at ski resorts in Russia’s North Caucasus during the New Year holidays faced queues of up to 30 minutes for lifts.

The cost of a five-day trip to the Arkhiz resort was nearly 400,000 rubles (approximately $5,200) per person. Comparatively, a similar trip to Courchevel in France would cost a comparable amount. A stay at a sanatorium in Mineralnye Vody costs around 17,000 rubles (approximately $221) per day, excluding transportation, while similar treatment in Druskininkai, Lithuania, costs about 45 euros per day.

“With this price difference, people are starting to consider traveling abroad, even if entering the EU is complicated and expensive,” an industry expert emphasized.