Russians' demand for tours to Southeast Asia will grow in 2026
In 2026, the tourist flow from Russia to the countries of Southeast Asia may grow significantly against the background of the strengthening of the ruble and the unstable situation in the Middle East. Analysts at Sunway Estates predict positive dynamics in almost all countries of the region, and Thailand, Indonesia and Laos will remain the most sought-after destinations among Russians. The reasons for the growth in demand and new tourist trends are described in the Izvestia article.
The reasons for the increase in tourist flow
The demand for trips to Southeast Asian countries increased significantly in the first half of 2026. One of the main reasons was the conflict in the Middle East, which negatively affected the stability of flights with the UAE and Qatar. Due to restrictions on flights in this direction, many travelers have opted for Asian resorts.
An additional incentive for the increase in the number of trips was the strengthening of the ruble exchange rate, which allowed Russian tourists to increase their vacation budget. According to the forecasts of the company's analysts, almost all states in the region from 11 countries will show positive dynamics by the end of the year.
Leaders of tourist demand
According to experts, Thailand has been leading the preferences of Russians for 15 years. In 2026, 2.5 million tourists from Russia are expected to arrive, which is 600,000 more than in the previous year.
The popularity of the destination is also confirmed by the high demand for rental housing: Russians are among the top 3 foreign buyers of real estate in the kingdom. At the same time, in Phuket, Russian citizens surpassed Chinese representatives in the number of arrivals for the first time.
Bali Island in Indonesia is also showing significant growth. In 2025, the tourist flow from Russia there doubled and reached 260 thousand people. Experts predict that by the end of 2026, this figure in the whole country may amount to 170 thousand visits, while the majority of tourists will continue to choose Balinese resorts.
Tourism boom in Laos and Singapore
Laos is experiencing a surge of interest from Russians due to low prices and the opportunity to extend visa-free stay in neighboring Thailand. In 2026, it is expected that the number of guests from Russia will exceed 70 thousand people. This is facilitated by the reduction of the Thai visa-free period from 60 to 30 days, which is why tourists visit Laos to activate a new period of stay under the visa.
"A large number of historical Buddhist sites can have a positive effect on long-term tourist visits. At the same time, the country has no access to the sea and a poorly developed tourist infrastructure, which negatively affects the length of stay of tourists," the analysts added.
In Singapore, on the contrary, the number of Russian tourists is projected to decrease to 35 thousand people. The main reasons are the lack of direct flights and difficulties in the operation of the hub in Dubai. At the same time, East Timor and Brunei remain the most exotic and inaccessible destinations, where the number of travelers from Russia will not exceed 1,000 per year.
"It is difficult to get to both countries, while Brunei is more often visited as part of combined tours from Malaysia," the experts noted.
Difficulties for long-term rest
The change in the rules of stay in Thailand may affect those Russians who planned to spend several winter months in the country. The reduction of the visa-free period to 30 days, according to experts, will affect the figures at the end of the year.
The duration of visits is also affected by the underdeveloped infrastructure in some countries, such as Laos, where the lack of access to the sea holds back the massive flow.
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