More than 6.4 mln Russian tourists to vacation abroad in summer 2025

MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - Outbound tourism from Russia may reach some 6.4 million this coming summer, which is a 24.8% increase from last year, the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR) said on Friday.

"Early booking of summer vacations is almost twice more successful this year than last year. According to our tentative estimations, some 6.4 million Russians will go to popular foreign countries for vacation and business purposes in the coming three summer months, against 5.15 million last year," Artur Muradyan, vice president of ATOR for international tourism and general director of the tour operator Space Travel, told a press conference on the upcoming summer tourism season.

The increase in the demand for vacations abroad is due to several factors, he said.

"The strengthening of the ruble, which began in spring and which continues now, stimulated sales. Air transportation on many popular destinations became cheaper. The main surprise of the summer season is also charter flights to Vietnam, the demand for vacations in this country is actively increasing with flights with connections as well," the expert said.

According to ATOR, Turkey remains a traditional leader among foreign destinations with 3.15 million tourists, tourism there is projected to increase by 15% from summer 2024. It is followed by Abkhazia (1.1 million tourists, plus seven percent) and China, where some 500,000 tourists from Russia will go (plus 25%).

The top ten most popular destinations also include the United Arab Emirates (450,000, plus 20%), Egypt (80,000, plus 45%), Thailand (260,000, plus 17%), Vietnam (100,000, plus 140%), the Maldives (65,000, plus 15%), the former Soviet republics (210,000, plus 20%), and Indonesia (55,000, plus 10%).

More than 50% of the summer tours abroad have been sold due to successful early booking, the association said.