Which destinations will be popular among tourists in the summer of 2024?

Trips to Egypt have fallen in price by a third. Tours for two are now sold from 100 thousand rubles. per week on an all-inclusive basis. Both resorts offer discounts: Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. But Turkish hoteliers are not ready to reduce prices, warn tour operators interviewed by Kommersant FM. At the same time, European destinations are opening for Russians. So far, in the form of additional connecting hubs through Arab countries, for example, from Moscow to Athens via Sharjah. Where will it be easier to fly to? And how much does a vacation abroad cost in the summer of 2024? Aelita Kurmukova found out.

There have not been such prices in Egypt for a couple of years; the price lists delight not only tourists, but also surprise market participants. The Europeans are not ready to fly to the Red Sea, and Egypt is relying on the Russians. The conflict in the Middle East initially scared away our compatriots, but now the situation has changed. Especially when the discount reaches 30%.

A week in a “five” in Hurghada for two, including the February holidays, will cost 130 thousand rubles. For this money you can now buy only one air ticket Moscow-Paris-Moscow via Tbilisi there, and back via Casablanca. Egypt is returning to a comfortable price range, but only until the May holidays, assures the vice-president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia Artur Muradyan:

“The pricing policy of premium hotel brands in Egypt has decreased by probably 15-20%. But this, let’s say, is not so noticeable. The cost of travel will start from 250-300 thousand rubles. depending on room category. It can reach up to 400 thousand rubles. But this is still cheaper than hotels competing in terms of service in the United Arab Emirates, because a similar property there will start from 500 thousand rubles. and higher”.

But Turkey, which in the summer of 2023 lost 1 million Russians due to high prices, does not seem to have drawn any conclusions. Not only are there no discounts, but also tour packages have become more expensive, adds Aleksan Mkrtchyan, vice-president of the Alliance of Travel Agencies: “Turkish hoteliers planned to raise prices by 20%, but they are increasing them only by 5-7%. Türkiye will still be missing approximately 700-800 thousand Russians in 2024. And the biggest increase is in the United Arab Emirates. We have more than 600 flights a week there. Despite the fact that it is hot in the UAE in summer, it is cheaper there than in Turkey. For a family – by 20-25%. Türkiye for a week will cost an average of 300 thousand rubles. United Arab Emirates – 240-250 thousand rubles. for three persons”.

This summer there will be a lot of inexpensive Cuba, Mkrtchyan notes. For the same 250 thousand rubles. You can fly to the Caribbean for a family with a child. Special offers for Thailand are also expected in the second half of May. But at this time the rainy season begins there, which will last until autumn. So there are not so many foreign beach destinations. But in June, additional routes to European resorts are opening in the form of new connecting hubs from Arab carriers, says Dmitry Gorin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST):

“Tour companies make special programs, for example, to Montenegro via Kuwait or to Cyprus via Yerevan. Despite the 11-hour flight, these programs are more accessible through travel companies than when booking on your own, both in price and in terms of optimal connection times. The offers that exist now are 250-350 thousand rubles. for two, including flights to European destinations: Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Italy, France.”

17 countries continue to issue Schengen visas to Russians, emphasizes Dmitry Gorin. And France, at the end of 2023, issued 70% more than the year before. Plus there are national visas of Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania. But depending on the category of hotel and flight, the price for a week-long tour package to Europe can reach up to 500 thousand rubles, 60% of which is consumed by the air ticket.

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