Russia's tourism market continues to shrink rapidly amid economic problems, falling demand, and a fuel crisis. In the first half of 2026, about 2,700 tourism companies ceased operations in the Russian Federation, which is more than 52% higher than the figure for the same period last year. This is reported by UNN citing the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
Details
The FIS notes that Russians are increasingly refusing to travel, shortening the duration of their vacations, choosing cheaper holiday options, and not using the services of travel agencies.
In the first half of this year, about 2,700 tourism companies ceased operations in Russia, which is 52.3% more than in the same period last year
Demand is falling, and problems are mounting
According to intelligence, the tourism industry is suffering not only from a decline in the number of clients. The activities of tour operators are also affected by rising operating costs, difficulties with air travel, disruptions in airport operations, and a fuel shortage.
The FIS notes that over the year, demand for package tours in Russia has decreased by 22–31%, causing many companies to be unable to stay in the market.
Crimea did not save the tourist season
Domestic tourism also failed to compensate for the losses. Hotel bookings in Russia fell by 12–15% compared to last year.
Intelligence separately drew attention to the situation in temporarily occupied Crimea. The Kremlin's expectations for an active tourist season did not materialize, and to support local businesses, the Russian authorities were forced to allocate 4.3 billion rubles in subsidies and compensations to employees of 4,600 enterprises on the peninsula.
For most local resorts, the tourist season actually ended without ever starting
Russians spend money not on vacations but on basic needs
The FIS emphasized that tourism is no longer a priority expense for most Russian families. They are forced to allocate nearly half of their family budget to food, while the remaining funds go to medicine, clothing, utility payments, and other essential needs.