An increase in international travel activity by Russian citizens was recorded in the first half of 2025, according to the latest data from the Border Service of the FSB. From January to June, Russians made a total of 13.66 million trips abroad, marking a 7.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
However, the most notable finding is the impressive 12.5% rise in travel to the top 30 most popular tourist countries, compared to a modest 4.3% increase to “near abroad” countries — mostly former Soviet republics with limited tourist appeal.
Turkey Leads, But with Losses
Turkey remains the top destination for Russian tourists, with 2.57 million trips in the first half of the year (18.8% of the total). Despite holding the top spot, Turkish statistics show a 2.9% decline in arrivals, attributed to a drop in Russian arrivals from third countries. Analysts suggest some of these trips were transit-related.
UAE and China on the Rise – But Many Are Transit Trips
The UAE ranks second with 1.14 million trips, up 16%, although up to 200,000 of these were transit stops en route to other Asian destinations.
Similarly, China saw a 31.2% increase with 1.04 million visits, though a significant portion involved border shopping or transit travel. Purely tourist visits are estimated at 600,000 to 700,000.
Strong Genuine Growth in Thailand and Egypt
Thailand posted a healthy 12.4% increase, reaching 1.03 million Russian tourists, supported by regular flight connections and its reputation as a vacation hotspot.
Even more striking was Egypt, with a 40.4% rise and nearly 940,000 arrivals, confirming renewed interest in the destination.
New Players at the Top: Vietnam, Maldives, Indonesia
Vietnam recorded a 139.3% surge to 260,000 visitors, climbing from 9th to 7th place, thanks to new flight routes to Nha Trang.
Maldives saw a 20.7% increase with 126,780 Russian tourists.
Indonesia jumped 35.4%, with 117,000 visitors, mostly due to direct flights to Bali.
Sri Lanka and South Korea – Same Rank, Different Trends
Both countries share 10th place but with different dynamics:
Sri Lanka experienced a small drop of 1.6% (112,000 visits), attributed to rising costs.
South Korea increased 20.8% (110,000 visitors), supported by connecting flights via China.
Returns and Declines
Cuba, previously in the top 10, saw a 43.4% decline, largely due to fewer direct flights.
Venezuela showed a similar trend.
In contrast, some less traditional destinations posted explosive growth:
Tunisia +364% (though in small absolute numbers)
Japan +103%
Morocco +65.8%
North Korea +279% — reaching 1,937 tourists, which still doesn’t indicate a true tourism boom.
The Bigger Picture
In total, 8.74 million trips were made to the 30 most popular destinations, accounting for 64% of all international travel. The top 10 (or 11) destinations absorb 93.3% of outbound Russian tourism, a nearly unchanged share from last year.
Interestingly, two-thirds of the TOP-30 countries showed positive momentum. Among the major mass-market destinations, Egypt stood out for absolute growth, while Turkey slightly declined.
Abkhazia attracted an estimated 665,000 visitors (+6.5%), though data is less reliable due to cross-border day trips and irregular reporting.
Key Takeaways
2025 started positively for outbound Russian tourism, especially to long-haul and traditional vacation destinations. This trend is supported by tour operator flights and restructured air routes via third countries.
However, despite the growth, the outlook remains fragile. In many cases, numbers are affected by flight logistics and hub transfers (e.g., UAE, China). Experts expect greater stability or even further growth over the summer, especially in countries that strengthen direct flights and offer competitive travel packages.
