Inbound tourist flow to Russia drops 30-40% in Q1

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Foreign tourist arrivals in Russia dropped by over 30% in Q1 2026, according to industry participants cited by Kommersant.

The Ministry of Economic Development clarified that outbound tourism increased by 37% year-on-year in January-February, but bookings plummeted sharply in March. The decrease in inbound tourist arrivals is partly attributed to military conflicts in the Middle East, leading to flight restrictions and tour cancellations.

Additionally, there has been a decline in demand from Chinese tourists due to rising travel costs and disruptions in air travel and mobile connectivity in Russia. The strengthening ruble has led to a 20% increase in travel costs over the past year. The average cost of a one-week tour per person is now $800-$1,200.