The Journey to the Philippines Continues
After days full of exhibitions, meetings, presentations, and briefings at the ASEAN TOURISM FORUM (ATF) 2026, the final event was a tour of the picturesque regions of the Philippines, which took place from January 31 to February 4, 2026 for hosted buyers and media representatives.

Natalia Klimenok from Russian Travel Digest, who previously…
https://russtd.com/the-journey-to-the-philippines-continues.html

Middle East: The Sky Is Closed
Due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, several Gulf countries have completely closed their airspace or imposed temporary overflight restrictions.
Russian air companies, as well as companies from other countries in the region, are forced to adjust their routes.

As of March 1–2, 2026, the airspace over the United Arab Emirates,…
https://russtd.com/middle-east-the-sky-is-closed.html

A New Budget Vacation Option in the Maldives: pros and cons
Guesthouses and local islands - inhabited islands where locals live - are becoming increasingly popular among Russian tourists vacationing in the Maldives. This is the opposite of island resorts, where there are only tourists and staff.

As Interfax notes, the growth of guesthouses has contributed to the increase in tourist flow from Russia.…
https://russtd.com/a-new-budget-vacation-option-in-the-maldives-pros-and-cons.html

The Middle East: How Russian Tourists are Being Repatriated
The situation in the Middle East remains tense, but the repatriation of tourists to Russia is in full swing. On March 2 and 3, nearly 3,000 Russians left the Persian Gulf countries.
On March 3, approximately 2,800 passengers were departed:
Moscow's Vnukovo Airport welcomed four Flydubai flights from Dubai. Besides Moscow, passengers…
https://russtd.com/the-middle-east-how-russian-tourists-are-being-repatriated.html

Japan Is One of the Most Growing Market for Russian Tourism
The Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported that the number of tourists from Russia in 2025 increased to nearly 195,000, a 96.3% increase from 2024. In December, 8,300 Russians visited Japan, a 41.2% increase from the previous year.

Experts named the increase in interest in traveling to Japan expected and explained it, in…
https://russtd.com/japan-is-one-of-the-most-growing-market-for-russian-tourism.html

Tour operators advise tourists not to cancel tours to the Middle East booked for late dates
According to experts from the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI), there have been no mass cancellations of tours to the Middle East for distant dates yet, although tourists are wondering whether they are obliged to do so following the Russian Ministry of Economic Development's travel advisory. RUTI experts emphasize that the conflict in the…
https://russtd.com/tour-operators-advise-tourists-not-to-cancel-tours-to-the-middle-east-booked-for-late-dates.html

Middle East: the Evacuation of Russian Tourists is Completed
As of March 16, Association of tour operators of Russia announced that they evacuated from the UAE to Russia all the tourists the who had purchased package tours.

In rare individual cases, tourists, usually with hotel only tours (those who booked only a hotel from a tour operator and bought tickets on their own) chose to stay in the UAE…
https://russtd.com/middle-east-the-evacuation-of-russian-tourists-is-completed.html

One More African Country Plans to Launch Direct Flights to Russia and to Waive Visas for Russian Citizens
The growing interest among Russians in vacationing in Africa, Uganda has become even more active in promoting itself in the Russian tourism market. The DMCs are establishing contacts with Russian tour operators. Its national carrier, Uganda Airlines, is ready to consider launching direct flights.

At the MITT-2026 travel fair held in Moscow…
https://russtd.com/one-more-african-country-plans-to-launch-direct-flights-to-russia-and-to-waive-visas-for-russian-citizens.html

Hainan Island: Russian demand has increased by 60 percent
Russian tourist flow to the Chinese island of Hainan, having reached record levels last year, continues to rapidly increase in 2026.

In the first two months of 2026, Hainan welcomed 89,000 tourists from Russia, a 61.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Russia accounted for 31% of Hainan's total tourist flow in January-February.
https://russtd.com/hainan-island-russian-demand-has-increased-by-60-percent.html

Azerbaijan is Expanding Its Presence in the Russian Tourism Market
In 2025, Russian tourist flow to Azerbaijan totaled 615,000 visits, an 18% decrease year-on-year.

2026 Azerbaijan has a chance of being even more successful, stated Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Russian Federation Rahman Mustafayev, pointing to the fact that in January 2026, tourist flow from Russia had already grown by 7% year-on-year,…
https://russtd.com/azerbaijan-is-expanding-its-presence-in-the-russian-tourism-market.html

Loss of Transit Routes and Reorientation of Russian Tourists
As a result of the military conflict in the Middle East, Russians lost approximately a third of the transit routes that passed through the Persian Gulf countries.

In 2025, between 1.8 million and 2.1 million Russians could potentially use transit routes abroad. Of these, approximately 650,000–700,000 (or roughly a third) chose airports…
https://russtd.com/loss-of-transit-routes-and-reorientation-of-russian-tourists.html

ITB China Conference 2026 to Spotlight AI, Luxury Travel Shifts and China’s Changing Travel Demand
Taking place from 26–28 May 2026 in Shanghai, the ITB China Conference will feature 70+ topics and 180+ global speakers, offering a premier platform for dialogue between China
and the international travel industry.

At the heart of ITB China, the ITB China Conference will convene global and Chinese travel leaders to discuss the most…
https://russtd.com/itb-china-conference-2026-to-spotlight-ai,-luxury-travel-shifts-and-china’s-changing-travel-demand.html

Film tourism is gaining popularity among Russian travelers
Film tourism is a new trend among Russian travelers, where tourists travel to the filming locations of their favorite movies and TV series. The number of inquiries and bookings for such trips has increased by almost a quarter. According to the travel marketplace YouTravel.me, this trend is driven by a demand for emotional and unusual travel experiences.

https://russtd.com/film-tourism-is-gaining-popularity-among-russian-travelers.html

Now it can be easier for Russian tourists to enter Italy
Starting June 1, Italy will introduce a simplified visa application process for Russian citizens, replacing traditional visas with electronic ones. This was announced by Roberto D'Agostino, Honorary Consul of Italy in Yekaterinburg.

According to him, the new format will expedite the process of obtaining permits. D'Agostino added that Italy…
https://russtd.com/now-it-can-be-easier-for-russian-tourists-to-enter-italy.html

Greece: growing demand by Russians travelers
Demand for beach holidays in Greece for the summer of 2026 has doubled. Tour operators report that Greece's beach destinations are booking significantly better than last year. The destination is among the top 5 most booked in Europe for the 2026 summer season.

Tez Tour has recorded a 57% increase, Pac Group has seen a 10% increase, Space…
https://russtd.com/greece-growing-demand-by-russians-travelers.html

ATOR experts have assessed the potential timeframe for tourism recovery in the Middle East
Tourism in the Middle East could recover by early summer if the conflicting parties in the region observe a two-week ceasefire, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

Restoring Middle Eastern countries "on the tourist map" could take several months if a ceasefire between Iran and the United States is reached, according…
https://russtd.com/ator-experts-have-assessed-the-potential-timeframe-for-tourism-recovery-in-the-middle-east.html

Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia lifted flight restrictions in the Middle East
On April 20, Federal Air Transport Agency, taking into account the position of the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lifted its recommendations for Russian airlines to suspend ticket sales to and from the UAE. Restrictions on Russian airlines' flights through Iranian airspace were also lifted. It was noted…
https://russtd.com/federal-air-transport-agency-of-russia-lifted-flight-restrictions-in-the-middle-east.html

A Tourism Development Forum was held in Tajikistan
On April 16-17, the third International Tourism Forum «Sughd – crossroads of the Great Silk Road» was held in Khujand (Sughd Region, Tajikistan). The forum aimed at developing international cooperation in tourism and promoting the region's tourism potential.

Over 500 tourism industry representatives from nine countries and 25 regions participated…
https://russtd.com/a-tourism-development-forum-was-held-in-tajikistan.html

ATOR Has Asked the Ministry of Economic Development to Allow Sales of Package Tours to the UAE
On April 30, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) officially submitted a request to the Ministry of Economic Development to allow tour operators to resume selling package tours to the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries. This was announced by ATOR Executive Director Maya Lomidze.

According to Lomidze, discussions…
https://russtd.com/ator-has-asked-the-ministry-of-economic-development-to-allow-sales-of-package-tours-to-the-uae.html

Seychelles: Season 2026
By the end of 2025, 37,595 Russian tourists visited the Seychelles. This is a 7.3% increase compared to 2024 (35,030 visits). Thus, Russia takes the third place in the ranking of key inbound markets in 2025, behind only Germany (55,497 visits) and France (41,409 visits), and continued to close the gap.

In the first quarter of 2026, according…
https://russtd.com/seychelles-season-2026.html

The Japanese Visa Application Centre in Moscow Has Tightened Document Screening Procedures
The Japan Visa Application Center in Moscow, which opened in February of this year, has begun implementing its own administrative procedures, which are markedly stricter than the previous, more lenient procedures of the Japanese Embassy.
https://russtd.com/the-japanese-visa-application-centre-in-moscow-has-tightened-document-screening-procedures.html