Russian tourists again reached out to Europe: the tourist flow is growing steadily

Tickets to Rome or Paris in September will cost at least 40 thousand

Despite the turbulent foreign policy situation and everyday difficulties (flights with transfers, problems with bank cards, etc.), Russians who are accustomed to relaxing in Europe do not give up their favorite resorts – experts came to this conclusion after a survey conducted in the summer of 2023 of the year. Tourist flow to Europe increased by 15% compared to last year. Experts explain this by the fact that over the past year, many of those who wanted to return to Rome and Paris managed to collect all the necessary information and prepare for trips in the new realities.

Italy became the leader of the tourist sympathies of Russians – the number of visitors to this country increased by 43% compared to last year. There are several possible explanations here. Firstly, it is in the Italian consulate that today it is easier to get a Schengen visa (some tourists are issued multiple-entry visas for 6 or 12 months). Secondly, many low-cost flights from neighboring countries fly to Italian cities at reasonable prices – for example, you can fly from Yerevan to Venice for only 25 euros.

The next two popular countries are Spain (+36%) and France (+33%). These countries also continue to issue Schengen visas without too much trouble, although getting there can be a little more difficult. Greece is also popular among Russian tourists (+25%). Here the trick is that the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kos can be reached by ferry from the Aegean coast of Turkey, from Bodrum or Marmaris, where you can fly from Russia by direct flight. Accordingly, logistics becomes more or less convenient.

Tourists who managed to visit their favorite resorts in Greece or Spain this summer note that at the household level, the attitude towards guests from Russia remains good – almost no one wants to drag politics to the beach, so global issues do not overshadow their vacation.

However, the main barrier for Russians on the way to Europe is not political or even transport, but financial. Tickets for flights with transfers cost about three times more than direct flights until 2020 (before the pandemic). So, for example, at the end of September, it will be possible to fly from Moscow to Rome for at least 38,000 rubles round-trip – with a change in Yerevan. A ticket to Paris and back on the same dates will cost more – from 44-45 thousand rubles (with transfers in Yerevan or Istanbul). If you fly to Barcelona, ​​you will have to pay 48-49 thousand rubles for a ticket, and to Madrid – at least 50 thousand rubles (again with transfers in Istanbul).

Accommodation and meals in European countries are also becoming, given the depreciation of the ruble, quite costly for Russian tourists. Moreover, after the pandemic in Europe, almost everything has risen in price – at the height of the holiday season, it is difficult to find a room cheaper than 100 euros per day in the resort of Alicante, Blanes or Rimini, not to mention Nice.