Moscow: Like many Russians, Andrei had planned to spend his summer vacation on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. But this July he, his wife and their two kids will be here Russia‘s Black Sea Anapa’s Sahara, hoping to avoid the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.
The price of a visit to Turkey, one of Russia’s top foreign vacation destinations, skyrocketed when Russia sent its troops to Ukraine on February 24, prompting Western sanctions to complicate everyday life for ordinary Russians.
master card And Visa Credit cards issued in Russia ceased to operate overseas, while the number of flights to and from Russia decreased as lease contracts for Russian airlines were terminated and airspace was closed to Russian aircraft.
“The air ticket is the number 1 problem,” said Andrei, a 35-year-old Moscow IT specialist. “So, now I’m preparing to make my way through the algae in the Black Sea.”
Anapa is in the Krasnodar Territory, 240 km (150 mi) south of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was crushed by Russian forces for nearly two months.
Since planes cannot fly there as a precaution due to conflict, the family will travel 24 hours by train. Including accommodation, travel would still cost more than half what they were prepared to spend on vacation in Turkey.
Travel to Europe is no longer an option for many Russians due to the lack of direct flights, which can turn a direct 2.5-hour trip to Germany via Istanbul into a 20-hour odyssey.
Then there is the problem of visas. On 13 May, the Foreign Ministry said it was recommending Russians not to travel to the UK because visas were “nearly impossible” to obtain.
According to data from Bank VTB, in Russia’s long May holidays, Russians spent about 50% more on train tickets than on New Year’s holidays, before the latest sanctions.
Anna Rodionova, who runs a small tour firm in the city of Tula, said that early bookings and European package tours have become almost non-existent.
Black Sea Coast, Central Asia
More expensive, far-flung destinations such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are still available with direct flights.
But the less wealthy seeking a package have a less exotic list of options other than Russia.
The Black Sea peninsula attached to Russia is Crimea, close to the conflict zone; Abkhazia, a separate Russian-backed region on Georgia’s Black Sea coast; and Russia’s allies Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and the countries of Central Asia.
“Companies have lost between 30% and 80% percent of their revenues,” said Artur Muradyan, who runs a travel firm and is also vice president of the Association of Russian Tour Operators.
“Cruise and operators working with European destinations are in a worst-case scenario … and we see no reason to change things for the better in the summer.”
Natalia Boldareva, the head of a small travel firm in Moscow, said the demand for trips she offers abroad has dropped by a third since the start of the conflict, “fearing bankruptcy of tour operators … and some because of negative sentiment towards Russians”. Country”.
Russian TV channels and other media have been telling Russians for months that they face hostilities in the West, raising concerns about rising prices and increased travel times.
Marina Podvigina-Gruber, who runs a PR agency in Moscow, canceled a trip to London in May, citing increased prices, difficulties with booking and a feeling that she may be facing “Russophobia”. Is.
Tatiana Astrakhantseva, 68, said she and her fiancé wanted to spend their honeymoon in Kemer, Turkey, which they know very well.
“But a tour agent we know said that … the sentiment towards Russians is no longer the best, people return unhappy, especially because of ethnic conflicts,” she said, implying Russians in Turkish hotels and Possible tensions between Ukrainians.
“We decided we didn’t want to spoil our vacation so we bought seeds, grew some plants, and we’re eating our fruits and vegetables… but we still plan to visit Crimea for a few weeks . Remember the time when we were little.”
The price of a visit to Turkey, one of Russia’s top foreign vacation destinations, skyrocketed when Russia sent its troops to Ukraine on February 24, prompting Western sanctions to complicate everyday life for ordinary Russians.
master card And Visa Credit cards issued in Russia ceased to operate overseas, while the number of flights to and from Russia decreased as lease contracts for Russian airlines were terminated and airspace was closed to Russian aircraft.
“The air ticket is the number 1 problem,” said Andrei, a 35-year-old Moscow IT specialist. “So, now I’m preparing to make my way through the algae in the Black Sea.”
Anapa is in the Krasnodar Territory, 240 km (150 mi) south of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was crushed by Russian forces for nearly two months.
Since planes cannot fly there as a precaution due to conflict, the family will travel 24 hours by train. Including accommodation, travel would still cost more than half what they were prepared to spend on vacation in Turkey.
Travel to Europe is no longer an option for many Russians due to the lack of direct flights, which can turn a direct 2.5-hour trip to Germany via Istanbul into a 20-hour odyssey.
Then there is the problem of visas. On 13 May, the Foreign Ministry said it was recommending Russians not to travel to the UK because visas were “nearly impossible” to obtain.
According to data from Bank VTB, in Russia’s long May holidays, Russians spent about 50% more on train tickets than on New Year’s holidays, before the latest sanctions.
Anna Rodionova, who runs a small tour firm in the city of Tula, said that early bookings and European package tours have become almost non-existent.
Black Sea Coast, Central Asia
More expensive, far-flung destinations such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are still available with direct flights.
But the less wealthy seeking a package have a less exotic list of options other than Russia.
The Black Sea peninsula attached to Russia is Crimea, close to the conflict zone; Abkhazia, a separate Russian-backed region on Georgia’s Black Sea coast; and Russia’s allies Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and the countries of Central Asia.
“Companies have lost between 30% and 80% percent of their revenues,” said Artur Muradyan, who runs a travel firm and is also vice president of the Association of Russian Tour Operators.
“Cruise and operators working with European destinations are in a worst-case scenario … and we see no reason to change things for the better in the summer.”
Natalia Boldareva, the head of a small travel firm in Moscow, said the demand for trips she offers abroad has dropped by a third since the start of the conflict, “fearing bankruptcy of tour operators … and some because of negative sentiment towards Russians”. Country”.
Russian TV channels and other media have been telling Russians for months that they face hostilities in the West, raising concerns about rising prices and increased travel times.
Marina Podvigina-Gruber, who runs a PR agency in Moscow, canceled a trip to London in May, citing increased prices, difficulties with booking and a feeling that she may be facing “Russophobia”. Is.
Tatiana Astrakhantseva, 68, said she and her fiancé wanted to spend their honeymoon in Kemer, Turkey, which they know very well.
“But a tour agent we know said that … the sentiment towards Russians is no longer the best, people return unhappy, especially because of ethnic conflicts,” she said, implying Russians in Turkish hotels and Possible tensions between Ukrainians.
“We decided we didn’t want to spoil our vacation so we bought seeds, grew some plants, and we’re eating our fruits and vegetables… but we still plan to visit Crimea for a few weeks . Remember the time when we were little.”