The expert spoke about the growing interest in Central Asia during the May holidays

Against the background of geopolitical instability and restrictions on flights to the Middle East, Russians are increasingly choosing alternative vacation destinations. Tatiana Nemykina, the tourism manager of the travel agency "TouRexpert", told Izvestia about this on March 31.

According to her, the demand for trips to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for the May holidays increased by 35% compared to the same period last year. The expert clarified that tourists are attracted by direct flights, stable prices and rich travel programs.

"In the current conditions, Central Asia is becoming the optimal balance for travelers between accessibility, quality of service and safety," Nemykina noted.

In particular, in Uzbekistan, not only traditional routes such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are popular, but also Tashkent with a developed gastronomy, as well as the Fergana Valley. There is a growing interest in trekking in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, and in Kazakhstan in combined trips to Alma Ata and natural locations, including Charyn Canyon and Lake Kaindy. In Tajikistan, the Pamir tract attracts the attention of tourists.

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In addition, Alexey Vasilchuk, a restaurateur and co-founder of VASILCHUKI Chaihona No. 1 chain, noted that the growing interest in the region is related, among other things, to gastronomic preferences.

"Over the past two months, we have seen a steady demand for authenticity. The guests are now looking for experiences closer to home, but with no less oriental flavor," he said.

The specialist added that this trend may intensify in the upcoming May holidays. Against the background of the unstable situation in the Middle East, Central Asian countries are strengthening their positions among key tourist destinations, while holiday prices remain relatively stable.

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Olga Chirikova, senior lecturer at the Department of Civil Law Disciplines at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, said on March 27 that if a Russian takes a working week off from May 4 to May 8, the May holidays will last a total of 11 days. In addition, Chirikova added that the May holidays in 2026 were shortened due to the mechanics of postponing weekends. In addition, the expert drew attention to the special order for the New Year holidays.

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