No longer relevant: why Russians stopped traveling on November holidays

November holidays are disappearing from the tourist calendar, as stated by analysts in the domestic tourism industry. Russians have stopped considering extended weekends at the beginning of the last month of autumn for travel, as was the case before.

We inquired about the reasons, as well as the plans of those who will nevertheless undertake a voyage during the holidays that coincide with the autumn holidays for schoolchildren.

Tourism industry experts warned a year ago that the November holidays would cease to be “fruitful” for tour sellers. But this November, in terms of the decline in tourist activity of Russians, has significantly “outdone” the similar period of last year, which alarmed professionals. But extended weekends still coincide with school holidays, are families with children really planning to stay at home?!

If you believe the summary statistics of the largest players in the domestic tourism market, the Russians have indeed changed both their priorities and routes, even in comparison with last year.

“A year ago at the same time, there was a decline in demand for foreign destinations,” clarifies the capital’s travel agency, specializing in “mass market” tourism – Turkey, Egypt, Russia. – Last November, domestic routes were in the lead. And this is where the decline falls on them. Russia remains among the top five most desirable holiday destinations for Russians, but only in 5th place.

– That is, Russians will still go abroad?

– Yes, but not for November, but closer to the New Year. The sales leaders are predictably Turkey and the Emirates; Egypt has now left the top five due to its proximity to the conflict zone. By the New Year, we expect demand for Thailand, Sri Lanka and China; since November, all of them have significantly simplified entry for Russians and there are direct flights there.

Judging by data from large travel agency networks, the drop in demand for organized tours and trips compared to November last year is noticeable. Moreover, this drop is most noticeable in domestic directions.

“Of those who do go somewhere, the majority will go to the Kavminvod sanatorium,” a marketer for a large Russian tour operator comments on sales statistics. – Sanatorium holidays are ahead of excursion holidays this fall.

“In the 90s there was such a parody of advertising: “The holiday didn’t look like a holiday until vodka appeared,” answers the question why for the first time in many years Muscovite Oksana is not going anywhere for November. – So I have such a “holiday”. Where everything is good, I can’t afford it and planes don’t fly from us. And where you can afford it, it’s not safe. And if in the summer, for example, you can sacrifice money and even comfort in order to swim in the sea for the year ahead, then in the fall this is not so relevant. If I had a discounted ticket to a sanatorium in Kislovodsk or Essentuki or money to buy a commercial property, I would happily go, like the Russian aristocracy of the century before last, “to the waters.” But there is no voucher, no extra money. And my children and I have already traveled to St. Petersburg and the Golden Ring more than once. So this year we are staying at home until some kind of “vodka” appears.

– Which one, for example?

– Sanctions will be lifted, direct flights to Europe will be launched, as before. Or at least they will reduce prices in their native Krasnodar region.

Alas, judging by the position of the tourism industry, it has no such plans, although all major domestic tour operators collectively admit: tourist demand for these November holidays corresponds to the demand “on a regular weekend at the end of October” – and simply put, there is almost no such demand. Tourist salespeople also do not hide the fact that prices have increased by an average of 10-15% compared to November 2022.

“The increase in prices is strongest in Kavminvody and the Moscow region,” Sergei Romashkin, general director of the large domestic tour operator Dolphin, indicates the main trend. – Despite the fact that most tourists no longer “notice” November, for the tourism industry this is now a regular date and normal demand.

And here is the rating of our preferences for these “inconspicuous” holidays.

1st place – resorts of the Krasnodar region, average tour bill for November (3-5 days with arrivals on November 3 and 4 in 3-star hotels) from 15 thousand rubles per person without travel. The closer to Sochi, the more expensive the three rubles. A noticeable trend this year: tourists are trying to save money on the flight included in the tour, preferring to get to the Krasnodar Territory on their own. As for accommodation options, the presence of a heated swimming pool comes to the fore.

“Silver” for medical holidays in Minvody, the average bill for a tour for the November holidays (3-5 days in a sanatorium) is from 43,400 rubles. per person. “Bronze” in the Moscow region, on average 25,300 rubles. per person. In 4th place is the excursion – Golden Ring and St. Petersburg. The average bill per person for a three-day tour along the Golden Ring routes is from 12 thousand rubles, in St. Petersburg – from 10 thousand rubles.

Meanwhile, as many as three countries presented Russians with November gifts with an eye to increasing demand. On November 1, China will abolish the health card requirement for the first time since the start of the pandemic. From the same date, Thailand will introduce a 90-day visa-free regime for Russians, which will last until April 30, 2024. And the island of Sri Lanka will begin issuing free visas to Russians on November 7.