According to OZON.travel, the majority of Russians chose domestic destinations for their summer holidays.
Simferopol was the clear leader among domestic cities: 361,330 people traveling within Russia will head there. Compared to last year, demand this year The city has grown by 4%.
The top 5 cities for domestic travel remained unchanged from last year: in addition to the center of the Crimean Peninsula, travelers will head to Moscow, Sochi, Anapa, and St. Petersburg.
At the same time, demand for Krasnodar increased significantly: by 27%. Experts attribute this to the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Alean Family Resort Collection notes that demand for the current season is already 10-15% higher than the same period last year.
The popularity of domestic tourism is also reflected in search query statistics: for example, according to wordstat.yandex.ru, the number of queries related to vacations in Anapa is 10% higher than the same period last year.
"In my opinion, the growing popularity of Russian resorts is linked to the development of the hotel market and the temporary closure of tourist destinations in Turkey and Egypt in 2016. Russians, who previously vacationed only in Turkey, quickly tried vacationing on the Russian coast and were satisfied, so perhaps they are returning this season with a conscious decision. The latest fluctuations in exchange rates are also impacting the development of domestic tourism.
Along with the level of demand for vacations in Russia, tourist behavior is changing. For example, while last year many booked hotels approximately two months or more in advance, this year the booking period has been reduced to one month. Meanwhile, the length of vacations has remained the same as last year—the average summer vacation at our resorts lasts 10 days," says the marketing director of the family resort chain. Alean Family Resort Collection Olga Smolkina.
According to the expert, the cost of an Ultra All-Inclusive vacation varies depending on the resort's level. For example, in June, a 10-day vacation for a family of two adults and one or two children under 12 at a three-star resort starts at 66,500 rubles, at a four-star resort, from 75,600 rubles, and at a five-star resort, 118,000 rubles.
"Among the services that are particularly popular this season, it's worth noting the medical programs for children and adults. We're currently seeing an increase in early bookings for treatments at rates ranging from 10-15%. While last year, many guests opted for wellness programs while on vacation, this year, more and more tourists are opting for wellness programs that can be purchased in advance when booking their rooms. On the one hand, demand for medical treatments is driven by discounts available for advance booking. On the other hand, guests who came last year realized that these programs are popular, and to ensure they are available at a convenient time, it's best to book in advance," added Olga Smolkina.
Source: trn-news.ru