Exploration of New Destinations by Russian Tourists Amid Ongoing Travel Restrictions in Europe

After the invasion of Ukraine the European Union has begun to feel the impact of the sanctions imposed on Russia. The number of arrivals is down significantly.

SchengenVisaInfo.com explains that due to the sanctions the EU continues to maintain against Russians they are looking for alternative destinations. This costs the EU economy billions.

France 24 reports that the number of Russian tourists visiting Paris and other parts in France has dropped dramatically.

A spokesperson for the Paris Tourist Board commented on the current situation. She said that between January and the end of May this year, 95.8 percent fewer Russian tourists arrived in the city by air than during the same period last year.

The spokesperson also noted that arrivals of Russian tourists are likely to continue to be low.

France 24 explains that the invasion of Ukraine in February 2020 is the main reason for the travel difficulties from Russia to European destinations.

The cost of obtaining a visa to enter the EU has increased, and it is more difficult. Russian airlines are still banned from entering or flying into the EU. This makes it hard for Russians to plan their holidays.

Turkiye was the most popular overseas destination. Despite these challenges, and Europe becoming more difficult to access, Russian tourists embarked on 22.5 million trips abroad in 2022. This is a significant rise compared with 19.2 million trips made in 2021.

This year, Russians are visiting non-Western countries in record numbers. The United Arab Emirates, Thailand Egypt, Maldives and Turkiye all saw a spike in Russian tourists.

To capture a piece of the Russian tourist market, many countries, including those outside the EU, have been working on improving air travel links.

Thailand, Morocco and Sri Lanka are planning to open direct flights with Russia in order to facilitate travel.

India, Oman and Myanmar are also in discussions with Russian authorities about the possibilities of increasing tourism to the country.

In the EU, the absence of Russian tourists is affecting the economies of Greece, Cyprus, and other countries. Up until the restrictions were implemented, these countries recorded large numbers of visitors each year. Both countries are exploring new strategies to attract tourists.

Source: schengenvisainfo.com