Russians are less likely to go to winter camps

Despite the general increase in the number of trips abroad, Russians have become less likely to go to winter camps. The number of trips for a period of three weeks or more in December-March decreased by 15% year-on-year. Experts attribute the dynamics to the desire of tourists for variety, the growth of the dollar, as well as a decrease in motivation for long-term travel abroad due to the reduction in opportunities for remote work and the stabilization of the news background.

The number of foreign trips lasting three weeks or more in the period from December 1 to March 1 decreased by 15% year-on-year, MTC Travel calculated based on MTS Big Data. According to the service, “wintering” accounts for 6% of all trips abroad during this period versus 10% a year earlier. The number of “wintering” accommodations is decreasing due to the growth of the overall outbound tourist flow. The total number of trips to non-CIS countries, according to MTC Travel, increased by 15% year on year.

Commercial Director of Ozon Travel Natalya Pogibleva notes that the share of long-term trips in the structure of tickets sold over the year decreased from 19.5% to 13.5%, although in general interest in foreign trips has increased markedly. Ostrovok.ru is talking about a third reduction in the number of bookings with accommodation longer than 21 days. OneTwoTrip reported that the share of foreign destinations in the structure of ticket sales over the year increased 1.5 times, to 19.8%, while the volume of long-term trips remained at 16.3%.

MTS Travel clarifies that 54% of trips abroad in the winter of 2023/24 lasted a week or less, 40% lasted from one to three weeks. The number of such trips increased by 25% and 9%, respectively. The average trip duration, according to the service, decreased by 10% year on year, to ten days. MTS Travel analysts attribute the reduction in travel duration and the abandonment of winter stays to the rise in the dollar exchange rate. One of Kommersant’s interlocutors in the tourism market notes that due to the increase in the number of available destinations, tourists from the Russian Federation in general began to travel more and instead of visiting several countries over the winter.

Vice-President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Dmitry Gorin also points out that active tourists have begun to make more trips. According to his estimates, during the pandemic and the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, such travelers traveled abroad once or twice a year, and today – three times. Mr. Gorin connects this with the expansion of the geography of flights, noting that direct flights from Russia are carried out to 40 destinations. At the same time, he points out that many companies are reducing opportunities for remote work. OnlineTur.ru representative Igor Blinov suggests that Russians are less eager to work abroad due to the stabilization of the news background.

Yandex Travels notes that on trips lasting more than three weeks, tourists go mainly to foreign countries, which accounted for 48% of bookings in winter. The most noticeable increase in demand among winter destinations, according to Yandex Travel, was shown by Vietnam, India and South Korea. Some tourists discovered destinations such as Nigeria, Malaysia and Cuba, the service added. Natalya Pogibleva also says that the geography of “wintering” is becoming more diverse. If last year Bangkok, Phuket and Denpasar accounted for 30% of such sales, then this year the share of these destinations has halved, she notes.

According to MTC Travel estimates, Thailand accounted for 19% of all foreign winter trips this year. The number of trips to the country increased by 16% year on year. The second place was taken by the UAE with a share of 16% and an increase of 15%, the third place was taken by Turkey with a share of 12% and a decrease in demand by 17%, the service indicates. 12% and 6% of foreign trips in winter were to Egypt and China. MTC Travel recorded a noticeable increase in demand in European destinations. The number of trips to Italy, according to analysts, increased by 10% year on year, to France – by 22%, but in the overall structure of bookings, these countries accounted for only 2%. The most popular foreign destinations in general at MTC Travel include Thailand, Turkey and the UAE.

Alexandra Mertsalova