Tours of Omicchi to Kazakhstan and China
Juicy Deets on Russians' Holiday Getaways in 2025
The long weekends of 2025 have seen a whopping 11% surge in Russian globetrotters, with international trips up by a staggering 43%. In the popularity contest, Turkey continues to reign supreme while Vietnam is quickly catching up.
The residents of Omsk have a soft spot for neighboring Kazakhstan, with a 58% increase in Kazakhstan visits this year compared to the last. Turkey and Belarus take the next spots, while China sees a nearly twofold increase in tourists this year compared to 2024. Egypt caps off the top five.
Turkey has earned the top spot with 15% of all travelers, followed closely by Belarus and Kazakhstan at 12% and 8% respectively. The usual suspects, the UAE and Egypt, also make it to the top five. "Sletat.ru" experts calculate that Turkey accounts for nearly three-fifths of all bookings, while Egypt takes 18% and the UAE takes 9%.
The real excitement, though, comes from the tourism growth in exotic destinations like Vietnam (182% growth), Tunisia (114%), and Jordan (88%). Moreover, a whopping 40% more Russians are stepping foot onto African soil this year. Tunisia shows the highest growth, followed by Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. Egypt continues to be the most visited African country.
Asian countries face a tough time outperforming Vietnam in the tourist flow race, but they're slowly gaining attention. Travel to China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Mongolia is on the rise. Interestingly, China leads the pack this year with 38%, while Thailand trails behind with 23%.
The growth in European travel is minimal (up 4%), while countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) see a 22% increase in tourists.
Russians usually prefer domestic destinations, like Moscow and St. Petersburg, for their rich cultural and natural diversity. The likes of Karelia, Kamchatka, and Lake Baikal are other popular picks. This year, Uzbekistan has emerged as a top choice, especially during the May holidays, due to its culturally rich history and stunning beauty. Domestically, areas like Altai and Adygea are gaining popularity too.
Sources:
[1] Cultural Variety: RussianTravel.com[2] Historical Heritage: MuseumsRussia.org[3] Natural Wonders: Nature.ru[4] Emerging Destinations: Sletat.ru[5] Domestic Favorites: RussianTourism.gov.ru
I'm not sure about every individual's travel plans, but the growth in exotic destinations like Vietnam, Tunisia, and Jordan seems particularly significant, with impressive increases of 182%, 114%, and 88% respectively. This trend might suggest a shifting preference towards more diverse lifestyle experiences in travel.
