Russian holiday dreams shattered by soaring tourism costs

Russians living in Moscow and other large cities skew the reality faced by residents in the rest of the country, which is one of poverty. The latest evidence on this matter is research published on the portal "The Moscow Times."

The majority of Russian Federation citizens will not go on holiday this year because they cannot afford it.

Holidays in Russia are now unavailable for 80% of Russians. Most citizens cannot afford domestic holidays due to the sharp increase in local tourism prices, reports the Nexta agency on the X platform.

The Russian economy switched to war mode, which generated enormous costs. This affects the wallets of average residents. Prices for services and goods are rising. For most Russians, there just isn't enough money for a holiday anymore.

Four-fifths of the citizens are able to spend up to 15 thousand roubles (about £130) on a trip, while the average cost of a holiday is 70 thousand roubles (over £600) - according to precise calculations from the portal "The Moscow Times".

Two-week holidays remain in the realm of dreams. Trips to more distant parts of the country, especially by plane, are also becoming unattainable.

Due to the rise in tourism service prices, Russians increasingly opt for weekend getaways and trips to regions closest to their place of residence. The most popular tourist destinations in Russia are the southern cities of Krasnodar and Sochi. A trip to the Far East was chosen by 29% of tourists planning a holiday, the Arctic - 21%, and Siberia - 19%, reported the portal.

The study shows a clear division within Russian society. 80% of citizens cannot afford a domestic trip. The remaining 20% have the money and eagerly use it. But even when they travel abroad, they cannot expect to be warmly welcomed.