Travel and tourism in Russia - statistics & facts
Russia's travel and tourism industry is undergoing a major transformation, with an increasing demand for domestic tourism. The number of visitors in hotels and similar accommodation establishments in the country peaked in 2023, having exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, Russian travelers have increased their spending during trips abroad in the past three years, despite the challenges to international tourism presented by the war in Ukraine.
With international tourism facing the challenges above, domestic tourism is expected to continue developing in Russia. Between 2024 and 2034, expenditure in this segment is forecast to grow by 25 percent, which would increase the contribution of travel and tourism to Russia's gross domestic product (GDP).
Impact of the war in Ukraine on tourism in Russia
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several Western countries, including the European Union (EU) members, the United Kingdom, and the United States, banned Russian aircraft from their airspace. In response, the Russian government announced a flight ban for planes from most of these territories. Visa restrictions, together with an increase in consumer prices, discouraged Russians from long-haul travel. Thus, Finland and Estonia were the only two EU countries that ranked among Russia's leading 10 outbound travel destinations in 2023. In addition, Western hotel chains like Marriott and Accor suspended operations in Russia. Some Radisson Blu and Park Inn establishments now operate under the Cosmos Hotel Group's brand. Furthermore, major online travel companies Booking.com and Airbnb exited the market, boosting the popularity of domestic aggregators like Tutu.ru.How many tourists visit Russia each year?
The number of inbound tourism visits to Russia exceeded 8.2 million in 2023 after having significantly dropped in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. Even though the visit count increased in the two subsequent years, it remained considerably below pre-pandemic levels. Both leisure and business travel segments have experienced challenges following the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent restrictions. In 2023, most inbound tourists visited Russia from neighboring Central Asian countries. Even though Russia's international travel receipts in 2023 were 40 percent lower than in 2019, they have increased in recent years. In the 2010s, Russia increased its popularity among foreign travelers after having hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.With international tourism facing the challenges above, domestic tourism is expected to continue developing in Russia. Between 2024 and 2034, expenditure in this segment is forecast to grow by 25 percent, which would increase the contribution of travel and tourism to Russia's gross domestic product (GDP).
