Russian tourists in Europe decrease with 9%

Sanctions, low oil prices and economic recession discouraged Russians tourists abroad. That is why Russia is the only major country sending tourists on Europe traveling, but now they are expected to make fewer trips this year than last. The number of Russians who travel to other European countries is expected to fall by about 9% this year compared with 2014. The decline comes amid attempts of the Russian economy out of the crisis after severe international restrictions imposed on local banks and energy companies after the annexation of the Crimea in March last year. Greece is one of the countries that most likely will experience difficulties as a favorite destination for Russian tourists.

“Russia is the main market for the Middle East and southern Europe. The problems come amid issues with Ukraine, the Russian boycott of products and the embargo that really stopped Russian tourists to travel a lot”, he added. “There are some countries, such as Greece, which will be affected by the loss of Russian tourists.”

The number of Russian vacations in Europe fell to about 35 million during the last year and is expected to shrink further to about 32 million people. In 2015, the calculations show. To show a similar trend and to the World Tourism Organization, presented in June. A decline was reported in the Russian tourists in Northern and Western and Southern Europe, such as travel to Greece. Turkey was also affected by declining Russian tourists are the second most numerous in the country after German according to the World Tourism Organization.

About 42 million Russians committed outbound trips to Europe in 2013 as the country enjoyed high economic growth and increase household incomes. However strict sanctions have helped to weaken the country’s economy, according to International Monetary Fund overall decrease in GDP could reach 9%.