tourist flow from Russia to Europe fell by 30% for the year. Instead of European ski resorts, Russian tourists prefer to rest in Krasnaya Polyana and Sheregesh. The summer season is likely to temper the decline due to the stabilization of the ruble, but to go into the growth zone European countries is unlikely.
Outbound tourism from Russia to Europe in the first quarter of this year fell to 30% compared to the same period in 2014. This is stated in the report of the European Commission for Tourism (European travel commission). The reduction in tourist traffic reflects the impact of falling oil prices on the purchasing power of Russian consumers, as well as the uncertainty felt by tourists due to the depreciation of the national currency, the report indicates.
The Fall of the number of Russian tourists in Europe, for which Russia is still a major external donor tourist traffic, swept almost all EU countries.
More than one-third reduction in the number of Russian tourists in Finland fell by 34% the number of tourists in Austria, 25% – in Spain. Approximately 30% reduction in the number of Russians who came as tourists to Italy.
The crisis abolished or significantly reduced their flights from Russia, many foreign carriers. So, the French Aigle Azur left with directions Moscow – Paris. A subsidiary of the German airline loukostera AirBerlin, Niki, no longer flies from Moscow to Vienna. Reduce the number of running air travel from Russia to Europe low-cost airlines Wizzair and EasyJet, and the airline SAS. The number of flights to Hungary, the UK, Denmark and Sweden has been reduced.
The main demand of Russian tourists to European destinations during the winter months focused on routes and excursions ski resorts, these areas have suffered largely due to the sharp depreciation of the ruble against the euro and the dollar, says press secretary Irina Rostourism Schegolkova.
Snow must go on
The demand turned towards domestic tourism – instead of European ski resorts, Russians prefer to Krasnaya Polyana.
Ski resorts in Sochi, working at full capacity – as previously wrote «Times”, the download of Krasnaya Polyana hotels in the first quarter compared with the same period last year increased by 29%.
«wishing to come to Krasnaya Polyana, Roza Khutor and Gorky Gorod was a lot was almost full load of hotels”, – adds Schegolkova.
Greatly increased the number of tourists and the ski resort Sheregesh in the Kemerovo region. For the season 2014/15 he was visited by over a million people.
Summer, sea, beach, sanctions
However, most Russians are still interested in the beach destinations and are completely abandon European resorts Russians do not intend to. With the approach of summer, the demand for holidays on the coast is increasing, both at domestic resorts and overseas.
«After the strengthening of the ruble to the first week of April, gradually began to grow sales across the board. This coincided with the traditional increased demand before the May holidays, “- the press service of TUI Russian analysts said Xenia Mazurova.
In the coming summer season of popular European destinations are expected to participants of the tourism market will remain the most democratic in the price country: Greece, Spain, Montenegro, Cyprus.
In addition to the lower than in other European resorts, the prices of these countries offer Russian tourists simplified visa regime: Greece and Spain, according to reviews on travel forums, often issue multiple Schengen visas for Russians, even at the first handling, Cyprus tourists can apply for a visa through the Internet, and in Montenegro visa for Russians for stays less than 30 days is not required at all.
Montenegro and Romania, even for the quarter showed an increase of Russian tourists. In Montenegro, in the first three months of this year it entered as tourists 30% more Russians than last year.
However, the current year is likely to be the year of domestic tourism. “People began to travel around the country, and found that it’s not as scary as they thought,” – says Schegolkova.
As for outbound tourism in Europe, though he shows some stabilization in the background approaching holiday season, but is unlikely to go into the growth zone. “A lot of talk about sanctions, people relay the conversations themselves, afraid of unfriendly relations, but it is not – everyone is waiting for Russian tourists, but this background information is present, and it affects the demand”, – the expert adds. 
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