The expert predicted a strengthening of interest in tourism in the Russian Federation due to the new rules

The new hotel operating rules, which will become effective in Russia on March 1, may strengthen the interest and confidence of tourists from other countries in the Russian destination. Evgenia Anokhina, Director of Commerce and Operations in the field of hospitality and wellness at the Green Flow network, told Izvestia on February 13.

According to the expert, the new rules, combined with the development of infrastructure, services and logistics, can strengthen interest in the Russian destination, especially from tourists from the CIS countries, the Middle East and Asia. These standards are a tool for increasing competitiveness in the long term, Anokhina noted.

"By themselves, the new rules will not become a driver of a sharp increase in inbound tourism, but they create an important base of trust. For foreign guests, clear rules of accommodation, transparent booking conditions, consumer protection and comparability of service with international expectations are crucial. If the changes actually work in practice, it will increase the predictability and comfort of travel in Russia," she added.

In addition, according to the expert, after the introduction of new rules, there will be no mass withdrawal of small independent hotels and hostels from popular online booking platforms.

Without refusals and hidden deductions: how the rules of hotel reservations will change in Russia starting in 2026

Starting from March 2026, all hotels and other accommodation facilities must be entered in a special register.

"Online platforms remain a key sales channel, especially for small accommodation facilities. Abandoning them would mean a drastic drop in downloads. However, some market cleaning is possible. Some of the facilities that initially operated outside the legal framework or with systemic violations may indeed face difficulties," Anokhina said.

In addition, she noted that the new rules can play a positive role for bona fide hotels, as they will be able to reduce the proportion of unscrupulous players.

Starting from March 1, 2026, new rules for booking and checking into hotels will take effect in Russia. Uniform requirements will apply to all types of accommodation facilities, from hotels and recreation centers to campsites. It was clarified that the hotel will be required to wait for the guest during the day: from the moment of scheduled arrival until the check-out time of the next day. The hotel has no right to cancel the reservation before the expiration of this period.

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