In keeping with statistics from the Border Carrier of the Federal Safety Carrier of the Russian Federation, 1.57 million international voters visited Russia for tourism in 2024. When put next, handiest 670,700 other folks traveled to Russia for tourism in 2023. Within the pre-COVID yr of 2019, the Russian inbound tourism welcomed 5,061,696 international vacationers, greater than thrice the quantity in 2023.
After a pointy decline in 2022, the choice of international visits to Russia started to recuperate in 2023. Alternatively, this restoration was once essentially pushed through industry shuttle somewhat than tourism.
In 2023, 605,400 international voters visited Russia for industry, just about matching the choice of recreational vacationers. It is value noting that many visits categorized as “vacationer” have been, actually, work trips. Professionals have noticed that the majority international visits to Russia in 2023 have been for industry tourism somewhat than recreational.
In 2024, the vintage recreational tourism phase skilled a noticeable restoration. Legitimate statistics point out that 1.57 million foreigners visited for recreational, in comparison to 611.5 thousand who got here for industry—just about 2.5 instances fewer.
It is value bringing up that the restoration of industrial tourism, which started actively in 2023, has bogged down. In 2024, only one% extra industry vacationers arrived in Russia in comparison to 2023, and the numbers nonetheless fall in need of the ones in 2019, when there have been 3.5 million industry guests. In consequence, the inbound industry waft to Russia stays 5.7 instances less than ahead of the pandemic.
Most sensible Supply Markets for Russian Inbound Tourism
In 2024, maximum international vacationers visiting Russia got here from China, with 848,000 visits for recreational functions, accounting for part of all recreational visits. This marks a considerable build up of four.2 instances in comparison to 2023 when there have been handiest 200,000 visits. Alternatively, this determine has now not but returned to pre-pandemic ranges; in 2019, Chinese language vacationers made 1,493,237 journeys to Russia for tourism, which is 1.76 instances greater than in 2024.
Germany ranked 2d in inbound tourism waft in 2024, with 65,800 visits, reflecting a 21.2% build up in comparison to the former yr. Professionals consider that a majority of these visits are for private causes, similar to visiting kin or for industry, somewhat than tourism. Excursion operators word that there are recently just a few remoted circumstances of German vacationers visiting Russia for recreational. Sooner than the pandemic, Germany was once a number one supply of visitors to Russia, with 522,000 visits for tourism in 2019, however the vacationer waft from Germany has since lowered through just about 8 instances.
3rd some of the most sensible inbound vacationer assets is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has lately emerged as a vital supply marketplace for Russia’s tourism. Sooner than the pandemic, the choice of guests from the UAE was once minimum, with handiest 23,000 visits recorded in 2019. Alternatively, since final yr, the choice of vacationers from the UAE has been continuously expanding, totaling 65,300 visits for tourism functions through the tip of 2024. This represents a expansion of two.8 instances in comparison to 2019 and a 53.6% build up in comparison to 2023.
Turkey ranked fourth on the finish of 2024, with 58.5 thousand guests, representing a 23.2% build up in comparison to 2023. Whilst vacationers from Turkey seek advice from Russia, a majority of these visits are essentially for industry. Alternatively, many Turkish vacationers revel in sightseeing, eating, and different actions. Significantly, the choice of guests from Turkey in 2024 has already surpassed the pre-pandemic figures from 2019 through 7 thousand journeys.
Turkmenistan took the 5th position, with 57.4 thousand guests and a outstanding 65.3% build up in comparison to 2023. Despite the fact that the respectable goal is “tourism,” maximum Turkmen voters touring to Russia achieve this for industry, transit, or private causes somewhat than conventional tourism.
Saudi Arabia is available in 6th position. Certainly, there’s a rising passion amongst Saudi vacationers in visiting Russia. Alternatively, extra direct flights and the facility to make bills the usage of international credit cards are wanted to reach a extra considerable vacationer waft. Regardless of those demanding situations, 55.2 thousand Saudi Arabian voters visited Russia in 2024, a determine greater than 13 instances upper than the pre-COVID overall of four.2 thousand visits in 2019 and 7 instances more than the numbers from 2023.
7th position is going to Iran. Russia and Iran have an settlement permitting a mutual visa-free regime for arranged teams of visitors. This settlement is proving efficient: in 2024, the choice of Iranian vacationers visiting Russia larger through 20,000 in comparison to the pre-pandemic yr of 2019, attaining 49,600 visits. This represents a 69.7% build up in comparison to 2019. Moreover, the waft of Iranian vacationers has grown through 68.1% in comparison to 2023.
Foreigners’ Favourite Locations in Russia
Overseas vacationers in Russia in most cases make a selection vintage excursions that final a median of five to 7 days. The preferred locations come with Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Murmansk. In 2024, Kazan may also be added to those towns, appearing vital expansion in reputation.
In keeping with Intourist, some of the main Russian excursion operators, the highest 5 wintry weather locations for international vacationers visiting the Eu a part of Russia in 2024-2025 are Moscow (50%), St. Petersburg (25%), Krasnodar Krai (3%), Murmansk (10%), and the Moscow Area (which contains Sergiev Posad) at 5%. Different towns in Russia account for 7%.
Maximum international vacationers seek advice from Russia throughout the summer season months, however in 2024, there was once a noticeable build up in wintry weather tourism, in particular from Arab markets. Throughout the wintry weather, the choice of vacationers strolling back from some Arab nations was once just about as prime as in the summertime. Statistics fortify this commentary: within the fourth quarter of 2024, the vacationer waft from the UAE reached 22,028 visits, whilst within the 3rd quarter (from July to September), it totaled 23,953 visits. There have been 16,046 visits from Saudi Arabia within the fourth quarter, contributing to 55,167 visits from that nation right through 2024, with 22,923 journeys happening within the 3rd quarter.
