Vacation by the ocean: why carriers cheated with prices

Promised cheap tours remain a myth

The domestic tourism industry, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry, happily reports that until the end of autumn we will most likely be able to fly direct flights to the favorite corners of Southeast Asia. And the most impatient of the tour operators have even formed tours based on their promised but not yet launched flights.

We took an interest in prices in order to understand how real a winter vacation in warm regions is.

According to competent sources present at the relevant negotiations right now, direct flights to the Indian resort of Goa, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar will be returned very soon. On the “bench” in terms of the likelihood of launching direct flights in the near future is Indonesia with its resort island of Bali. It’s no secret that many of the tourist destinations in Southeast Asia are loved by Russians, including for their cheapness, but, judging by the reviews of those who have already asked the price, it’s too early to rejoice.

– I don’t understand anything! – Muscovite Julia, whose vacation is scheduled for late November, is perplexed. – I read that from November 2, the Russian airline launches direct flights to Goa, at prices supposedly even cheaper than before the pandemic. And that travel agencies working with Goa have already formed tours. I was delighted, began to look at the offers – and shock! I have been to Goa many times, I know every hotel there. And now, excuse me, to the chicken coop, in which tourists used to buy a tour only for the sake of a charter flight, and the red price for such a tour before the pandemic was a maximum of 30 thousand rubles for a week for two with a flight, transfer and breakfast, now they offer at a price of almost 200 thousand rubles for two, for the New Year holidays and from 350 thousand at all! But people who do not know Goan specifics may decide that this is a normal hotel!

We check: indeed, the preliminary price for the direct flight of the flagship of Russian air transportation to Goa, promised from November 2, is 47 thousand rubles per person without luggage and 52 thousand rubles with luggage (round-trip). Before the pandemic, a similar flight really cost more than 70 thousand rubles per person round-trip. And carriers also promise that the price will change downwards. But this does not prevent prices for pre-formed tours from starting at 150 thousand rubles for two per week. We go with a question to a travel agency that specialized in India before the pandemic.

– Why such abnormal money for Goa? Those who have been there before will not pay so much for anything.

– They will sell this for lack of fish. Egypt is even more expensive, and Turkey is cold in winter. But now it’s all mixed up. Previously, our tourists did not have to explain why a week, say, in the Maldives is many times more expensive than the same period in neighboring Sri Lanka, although they are only 650 km apart. Everyone knew that Goa and Vietnam are cheap, Thai and Bali are more expensive, and the Maldives and Seychelles are luxury. And now it’s the other way around. Goa, Tai and Shri equaled each other. Although covid restrictions have not been lifted in Goa (PCR is needed, regardless of vaccination, people are asked to wear masks in public places – ed.), electricity and food problems are cut off daily in Sri, and Tai is already creaking in advance in anticipation of the influx of winterers from Europe. And everyone who knows Tai well knows that when they are full, the smiles end and poorly concealed irritation begins.

Surprised by such an unexpected price “equality” of luxury resorts with “hippie” resorts, I study the offer. And indeed: a week in 4 stars in Phuket for two – from 250 thousand rubles, about the same as the Maldives. But 10 nights in Cuba in 5 stars of the all-inclusive system – from 206 thousand rubles. for two with flights and all transfers. But this pales in comparison with the fact that the minimum price for 10 days in Serbia in November is 443,640 rubles for two.

“Southeast Asia seemed cheap to the Russians, because before the pandemic, tour operators raised charters there,” the travel agency explains. – And in other respects, the region is by no means cheaper than Latin America, if we take Cuba or the Dominican Republic. Well, Serbia is not an indicator at all, this is for those who now need to go to Europe at any cost, there is nothing to do there in November.

– So what can a Russian vacationer expect?

– We now have all hope for Vietnam. If direct flights are launched, as promised, then weekly tours will be able to meet 100 thousand for two. The Vietnamese are still giving good prices, their ocean is warm, covid restrictions have been lifted.