Travel grandmother: the number of older tourists has increased in Russia
In recent years, the share of older travelers in Russia has increased, Izvestia has learned. So, if in 2022 the figure was 6.4% of the total number of tourists, then in 2024 it was 7.6%, Experts attribute this to pent-up demand and income growth. About where and when people aged 60+ go and how online services help them, see the Izvestia article.
Travel statistics among elderly Russians
Since 2022, the share of tourists over the age of 60 has been gradually increasing in Russia. In 2022, the figure was 6.4%, and in 2024 it was already 7.6%, according to a request from Izvestia in the OneTwoTrip travel planning service.
"Analyzing the flight orders of the service's customers, we see that the proportion of travelers over the age of 60 has been increasing in recent years. In 2022, it was 6.4%, in 2023 it was 7.1% of the total (an increase of 11%), and in 2024 it was 7.6% (an increase of 7% year-on—year)," the service said.
According to the Tutu service provided to Izvestia, the trend continued in 2025: older people traveled 6% more often than in the same period of 2024.
At the same time, Dmitry Gorin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT), notes that today there is a trend towards rejuvenating the audience of travelers. However, the number of trips booked by older people is also growing.
Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region travel more often than others; according to information from Tutu, they account for almost a quarter of trips — 24%. Tourists aged 60+ from Krasnodar Krai (10%), St. Petersburg (9%), Rostov Oblast (3%) and Stavropol Krai (2%) are also active.
When and how do Russians travel for 60+ years
Older people travel during the warmer months of the year: summer, spring and autumn. The winter months, according to OneTwoTrip, have not been popular with Russians aged 60+ in the last three years.
As the company explained, in 2022, Russians over the age of 60 traveled mainly in the fall: the share of orders at this time of the year was 30.3%. 27.4% of elderly tourists vacationed in summer, 22.7% in winter, and 19.6% in spring.
However, by the end of 2023, such people were more likely to travel in the summer (30%). Autumn is in second place in popularity (25.9%), spring is in third (23.5%). In the winter of 2023, only 18.8% of customers traveled. In 2024, 27.8% of customers over the age of 60 went on vacation in the summer, and 26% in the spring. 25.3% of Russians chose autumn for trips, and 20.9% chose winter, OneTwoTrip clarified.
Older people prefer to get to their destination by train, Olga Kotelnikova, head of the Tutu Marketing Analysis department, comments to Izvestia.
— 74% of Russians over the age of 60 choose a train to travel around Russia. They travel abroad by train less often, but still a lot — 41%. In general, the railway is in the lead: it is chosen in 65% of cases. Next are planes — 19% of trips, buses — 16%," the expert cites the data.
Not only the demand is growing, but also the length of trips among the older generation. If in 2022 they rested for an average of 11.1 days, in 2023 the figure was 12.1 days, and in 2024 it was already 12.8 days, according to OneTwoTrip.
Where are the older people going?
Mature tourists travel both in Russia and abroad.
According to Tutu, Moscow is the leader among domestic destinations (31%). Krasnodar Territory is in second place in popularity (16%), St. Petersburg is in third (12%). The Stavropol Territory is also in the top.
Interestingly, over the past three years, more Russians over the age of 60 have chosen other countries for their holidays, according to OneTwoTrip. If in 2022 the share of trips abroad was 25%, in 2023 it was 38%, then by the end of 2024 46% of older Russians went on vacation to other countries. Thus, in two years, the demand for trips abroad has increased by 84%, OneTwoTrip comments.
According to Tutu, Belarus is most often chosen for trips (35%), Kazakhstan (11%), Armenia (10%), Turkey (8%) and Uzbekistan (7%) are also in demand.
Why are older Russians traveling more actively
Experts attribute the increase in the number of tourists of mature age to various factors. One of them is an increase in income.
Since 2022, employees of enterprises in some areas have begun to earn more, this happened due to the restructuring of the economy, Daniil Alexandrov, head of the Laboratory of Sociology of Education at the St. Petersburg branch of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, comments to Izvestia.
— The latest data suggests that not only wages have been growing, but also purchasing power. Secondly, people who have increased salaries feel more confident. If you know that, for example, your industrial specialty is in demand, then you will receive income tomorrow. If people think that production will continue to grow, they start spending money," says Daniil Alexandrov.
Russians' incomes are also increasing due to deposits, Dmitry Gorin notes.
— Older people tend to save. They place money on deposits. Now, of course, everything is falling due to the rate cut. But even today it is quite high. Moreover, we asked people why early booking is not popular. The respondents' response is: "We'd rather put money on deposit at 20-25% than get a 10% discount on the early booking promotion," says the PCT Vice President.
Despite the constant increase in ticket and hotel prices, Russians of all ages do not stop traveling, ATOR confirms to Izvestia. Today, tourists take a more rational approach to the budget for holidays, the choice of the cost of the tour, but they do not refuse to travel.
— The strengthening of the ruble has led to an increase in international travel, international flights show an increase of 15-20%, — Dmitry Gorin cites the data.
The expert also focuses on pent-up demand. It was caused by the pandemic and the general stress of events in the world. According to the expert, as soon as adaptation takes place, opportunities appear. Elderly people who have not traveled to Europe for five years have gone there today, despite logistical difficulties, and the dynamics has increased.
Among the reasons why Russians over the age of 60 have begun to travel more often is the proliferation of online services where you can conveniently and quickly arrange tickets. Dmitry Gorin believes that thanks to digitalization and the advent of "Public Services", the older generation has become more aware of how and where to search for information on the Internet. Although many are still wary of the online space because of the risk of encountering scammers. According to the PCT Vice president, offline tickets are more expensive due to fees and commissions, and online services attract customers with loyalty programs and bonuses.
Where to go for tourists over 60 years old
Experts recommend that the older generation pay attention to wellness tours.
Alexander Yakobenchuk, a nutritionist, swimming coach, and expert at the Infowork educational marketplace, advises going to the sea and boarding houses once or twice a year for 10-21 days to maintain health. In the summer season, the Mediterranean Sea is preferred, where the climate is mild. The velvet season is especially comfortable for the elderly with heart diseases and high blood pressure. In winter, you can visit Egypt or Thailand if a person tolerates sudden temperature changes well.
— Anticipation of joy is important for a good psychological well-being. Daydreams about traveling lift your mood, which can affect your hormones and positive well-being. Studying the culture and traditions of another country stimulates cognitive activity and memory," comments Olesya Tolstukhina, a clinical psychologist at the Doctor Nearby Medical technology company.
During the journey itself, people get new impressions and experiences, which enriches the psyche. Often, when traveling, you can see familiar things and events in a different way, rethink your attitude towards them, points out Olesya Tolstukhina. And new acquaintances are an additional bonus of traveling, because in the second half of life it is not so easy to find friends of interest.
Dmitry Gorin also advises to take a closer look at sightseeing tours. According to him, mature tourists like the routes of the gastronomic map of Russia and the Golden Ring, including because of convenient logistics.
— Today, there is a boom in travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg, including a trend among the older generation. They need exhibitions, theater premieres, and interesting excursions, including walking tours. It is a big misconception that such tourists like only bus tours. We see a trend towards mobility and mobility," says the expert.
Among the foreign destinations, he names the post-Soviet countries, since tickets there are affordable, and the flight does not take much time. If you want to go to the sea, you can fly to Turkey: during the velvet season there is a warm sea and a good climate. In winter, Dmitry Gorin recommends going to the UAE, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, as these countries have a unique excursion program.
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