Russia Saw Its Lowest Number Of Foreign Tourists In Five Years
- 28.07.2026, 10:40
Due to drone attacks and the fuel crisis.
The flow of foreign tourists to Russia has dropped sharply due to regular attacks by Ukrainian drones, airport closures, and the fuel crisis. From January through June, foreign visitors made 2.99 million tourist trips to the country, a decrease of nearly 20% year-over-year. As a result, the figure was the lowest in the past five years. This is according to data from Rosstat, which was analyzed by Kommersant. Sergey Romashkin, vice president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia , estimated the year-over-year decline in inbound tourism at 15%, but added that the decline intensified during the summer.
The peak tourist season in Russia runs from May through September, and China accounts for the largest share of foreign tourists. Last year, according to data from the FSB Border Service, Chinese tourists made up 50.8% of the total number of tourists. Saudi Arabia ranks second with a 4.6% share. It is followed by Turkmenistan, Turkey, Germany, and the UAE. The decline in the inbound tourism market is occurring despite the authorities’ efforts to increase the flow of visitors. For example, starting in 2023, international tourists visiting Russia can apply for electronic visas. Currently, these are available to citizens of 64 countries. Meanwhile, a visa-free regime has been in effect for Chinese citizens since September 2025.
According to Romashkin, tourist arrivals are currently falling from all countries, including China. This year’s summer season turned out to be significantly worse than expected, noted Marina Levchenko , CEO of “Tari Tura” . She pointed out that air service to Middle Eastern countries was suspended due to the war launched in February by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. This cut off not only tourists from that region but also those from Southeast Asia. At the same time, in May and June, Ukrainian drone strikes frequently caused disruptions at Russian airports. In addition, a fuel crisis has emerged, which tourists are concerned about, Levchenko noted.
At the moment, tour operators have received many bookings for fall trips to Russia; however, whether these bookings translate into actual arrivals depends entirely on what happens both within the country and internationally, the expert concluded. Azimut Hotels noted that it will not be possible to restore pre-pandemic tourist traffic without stabilizing air service.