Tours around Russia for the long March weekend have become 65% more expensive than last year. Russians are trying to take advantage of the long weekend to extend their vacation and spend it on a warm beach. This is the conclusion reached by specialists from the online service for searching and booking tours Travelata.ru, having analyzed the preliminary results of booking tours for March 8.
The leading destination among organized tourists this year for the March holidays, as a year ago, was Thailand — every fifth tour was purchased to this country. In second place is Turkey, which has recently become a year-round holiday destination. Warm India follows closely behind. The Russian destination shared fourth place with the hot Emirates. This is evidenced by data from the online tour search and booking service Travelata.ru, collected on the basis of a consolidated analysis of the results of tour package sales from leading Russian tour operators.
Preferences for destinations among organized Russian tourists who purchased tours for the March weekend of 2019:
- Thailand - 21%
- Türkiye - 15%
- India - 12%
- Russia — 9%
- UAE - 9%
- Vietnam - 6%
- Cyprus - 5%
- Dominican Republic - 4%
- Egypt - 3%
- Czech Republic - 2%
- Cuba - 2%
- Spain - 2%
- Others - 10%
Last year, the Russian destination was in second place in popularity, ahead of both Turkey and India, while Thailand was also in the leading position.
Preferences for destinations among organized Russian tourists who purchased tours for the March weekend of 2018:
- Thailand - 20%
- Russia - 14%
- Türkiye - 13%
- UAE - 12%
- India - 9%
- Czech Republic - 6%
- Cyprus - 5%
- Israel - 3%
- Dominican Republic - 2%
- Vietnam - 2%
- Jordan - 2%
- Italy - 2%
- Bulgaria - 2%
- Others - 8%
Tours have become significantly more expensive over the year
Compared to last year, Russians began to pay more for vacations on the March holidays. The average bill for tours was 82,000 rubles (a year ago this figure was 70,000 rubles). All destinations have become more expensive - both domestic and foreign. The average bill for tours within Russia was 33,000 rubles, having increased by 65% (a year ago, Russians paid an average of 20,000 rubles). Foreign vacations have become less expensive both in percentage and absolute terms - up to 87,000 rubles (a year earlier, tours for the March holidays abroad cost an average of 78,000 rubles).
The most expensive of the five most popular destinations was Thailand — the average bill for tours to this country was 102,000 rubles. In second place in terms of cost were tours to the UAE — 85,000 rubles. A vacation in India cost an average of 81,000 rubles, and the most affordable destination was Türkiye — 52,000 rubles.
The cheapest tour for the March weekend abroad cost 16,306 rubles - to Turkey. For this money, one tourist will fly for nine nights to Alanya in a 4* hotel without meals.
The most expensive tour for the March weekend abroad cost 384,270 rubles - to Austria. For this money, three adults will spend a week in Sölden in a 3* hotel with breakfasts and dinners.
The cheapest tour for the March holidays in Russia cost 11,516 rubles. For this money, one tourist will fly to Adler for 6 nights to a boarding house without meals.
The most expensive tour for the March weekend in Russia cost 91,170 rubles. For this money, two adults will fly for 8 nights to a 2* hotel in Krasnaya Polyana with an all-inclusive meal plan.
Women's Day is celebrated in the "three-room apartments"
This year, Russians decided to indulge in a more luxurious vacation in the spring than last year. The leaders for the March holidays, as last year, were 3* hotels — 35% (although a year earlier this figure was 46%). The share of 4* hotels increased to 27% (a year ago — 18%). The number of "fives" has remained almost unchanged — tours to 5* hotels amounted to 22% (a year earlier — 20%). 8% vacationers booked 1-2* hotels (a year ago — 7%). 6% tourists preferred to stay in boarding houses and guest houses (a year earlier — 2%). Apartments or villas were booked by 2% vacationers (a year ago this figure was 7%).
Every fourth tour is all-inclusive
Most tours for the March weekend were booked with breakfasts — 53% (a year earlier this figure was comparable — 52%). In second place in popularity is the all-inclusive meal plan — 26% (a year ago only every fifth tour was purchased with this meal plan — 20%). Tours without meals were preferred by 11% vacationers (a year ago this figure was 16%). Tours with breakfasts and dinners amounted to 9% (a year ago — 11%). And the number of people wishing to relax in hotels with full board has not changed — 1% (a year earlier — also 1%).
March 8 is celebrated in pairs
The composition of vacationers has hardly changed compared to last year. Most tours were purchased for two people — 72% (a year ago, this figure was 71%). Tours for one person amounted to 14% (a year earlier, this figure was 17%). The number of people wishing to vacation with a family with a child or children has not changed — 10% (a year ago, there were also 10%). The share of tours for companies amounted to 4% (a year earlier, 2%).
Holiday as a reason for a long vacation
A significant portion of vacationers took advantage of the weekend to extend their vacation. The duration of 28% tours was 8-10 nights. Every fourth tour was purchased for 6-7 nights — 25%. 21% tours were purchased for a period of 11-13 nights. The share of short tours for 2-5 nights was 19%. And 7% tourists decided to vacation for more than two weeks in March.
"Russians prefer to use holidays to extend their week-long vacation," says Alexey Zaretsky, CEO of online tour search and booking service Travelata.ru. "As a result, there is an opportunity to go to hot Thailand, which is considered a distant destination, and spend at least a few days in a summer atmosphere. Turkey has recently become a year-round vacation spot. It is also worth noting that Russian tourists are gradually getting used to the fact that tours to Egypt are sold only with a flight via Cairo, and are taking advantage of the opportunity to relax on the warm coast of the Red Sea. However, the share of such tourists is still insignificant."
Source: trn-news.ru
