"Expansion of flights to Vietnam is most likely"
A decision on visa-free travel for groups between Russia and India may be made in the first half of 2026, Maya Lomidze, executive director of the Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), said in an interview with Izvestia. They can consist of 5-50 people, similar to China. At the same time, in 2026, Russians are still choosing Egypt, China, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Turkey. Oman may also become a popular route. Against the background of the record growth in tourist traffic to Vietnam, it is there that the expansion of flights is most likely. This year, direct flights are expected to Malaysia, and in the future they may appear in such countries as Mexico, Kenya and Tanzania, which are quite popular with tourists. About unexpected travel destinations and new trends in domestic tourism — in an exclusive interview with Maya Lomidze "Izvestia".
"The core of Russian tourists' preferences remains unchanged"
— Is there already an understanding of which countries Russians choose to travel to in 2026? Are there any unexpected destinations among them? Which countries could become new tourist routes in the future?
— The core preferences of Russian tourists remain unchanged. These are the top five: Egypt, China, the UAE, Thailand and Turkey. The main breakthrough of 2025 was Vietnam, which showed a 200% increase in tourist traffic. Egypt has also significantly strengthened its position, showing, according to tour operators, an increase of 30-50%. Another promising discovery was Saudi Arabia, with an increase of about 20%. Oman is one of the potentially popular routes.
— Which traditional tourist destinations, on the contrary, are experiencing a decline? What could be the reason for this, apart from the restrictions on flights and high ticket prices?
— The main decline was recorded in Iran — about 42% and in Venezuela — around 35%. In both cases, this was caused by geopolitical tensions. There was no noticeable decline in other popular destinations. The slight decrease in Turkey's share in the total volume is not due to a drop in demand for it, but to the active growth in popularity of other countries.
"Direct flights to Malaysia are expected to open"
— Southeast Asia remains a very popular destination for beach holidays. Should we expect an expansion of flights to Indonesia, Vietnam or the Philippines?
— Against the background of the boom in Vietnam, the expansion of regular and charter flights with this country is most likely. Direct flights to Malaysia are also expected to open, which should increase the tourist flow there. The development of routes to other countries in the region will depend on the overall level of demand and the geopolitical situation.
— How likely is it to launch direct flights to Latin America and Africa? Can these areas become in demand? Which countries are of particular interest to Russian tourists?
— Among the countries of this region, our tourists show the greatest interest in Mexico, Kenya, and Tanzania. However, the opening of direct flights is still under discussion, and it is difficult to name even approximate dates. In any case, these destinations are not very popular due to the high cost, and a surge in mass tourism to other countries in these regions is not predicted in the near future.
— Which countries in 2026 may switch to a visa-free regime with the Russian Federation, extend it or extend the period of visa-free stay? When does ATOR expect concrete steps to launch group visa-free travel between Russia and India?
— In 2025, China, Jordan and Oman were added to the visa-free list, and Saudi Arabia will join in 2026. Negotiations on the introduction of a group visa-free regime with India are underway, and a decision may be made in the first half of 2026. It is expected that the mechanism will be similar to the Chinese one, that is, the approval of lists of tour groups — probably from 5 to 50 people — through accredited operators.
"The tourist flow from Russia to all EU countries has decreased by orders of magnitude"
— Does the demand of Russians for travel to European countries remain stable amid restrictions on air travel and visa issuance? Have European airlines expressed interest in resuming flights to Russia and using Russian airspace?
— The demand for trips to the EU remains quite low for a number of reasons, including technical ones, due to the lack of flights and difficulties in obtaining visas. The tourist flow from Russia to all EU countries has decreased by orders of magnitude, but steady, albeit small, demand from Russian tourists remains for trips to Greece, Italy, France, and Spain. The 19th package of sanctions, which includes criminal liability for European legal entities that decide to offer any travel services to Russia, makes the issue of flights by European airlines meaningless.
— In which countries has it become more dangerous for tourists to stay due to the turbulent international situation or the increase in domestic crime?
— There have been no new official warnings for tourists for 2026. In 2025, there was an outflow of tourists from Iran and Venezuela due to the aggravation of the geopolitical situation. There are no threats to the safety of Russian citizens in the main resort areas.
"The return of tourist cashback could be an effective targeted incentive"
— Is there an increase in domestic tourism?
— There was no significant growth in domestic tourism in 2025. The main deterrent factors were the general increase in prices and the temporary closure of beaches in Anapa. At the same time, there was also no sharp reduction in tourist traffic — the market demonstrates a stable level of demand.
— To what extent does the development of tourism infrastructure in the Russian Federation currently meet the current demand?
— As for infrastructure, the government pays a lot of attention and funds to create it. However, it is obvious that the development of the regions is extremely uneven and remains a key factor for the growth of the entire market. The regions could use national tourist routes as a tool for rapid breakthrough and development, which can significantly increase the tourist flow. But even this is still happening on the ground, more pointwise than systematically.
— Are additional incentives needed to attract travelers, for example, the return of tourist cashback?
— The return of the tourist cashback program could be an effective targeted incentive to increase demand, but it is important to understand that its effect has time and budget constraints. If we talk about returning, then only for tourists with disabilities. By the way, this is one of the trends — an increase in the number of bookings from this category of travelers. Many tour operators have started to create special programs or integrate inclusivity elements into their classic tours.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
