April 2026 sales in Russia and CIS travel agencies are characterized by a complete halt of UAE revenue and a strong but incomplete pivot to Southeast Asia (Vietnam/Thailand) and Turkey, according to the meetings with travel agents conducted by Baginet team. A total of 135 sales calls were made across 4 countries and 7 cities: Russia (51.4%: Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Tyumen); Kyrgyzstan (22.9%), Belarus (20%), Armenia (7%).
UAE Market Collapse (Zero Sales in April)
Across all 135 agencies, UAE tour sales are completely suspended in April 2026. All previously booked tours for March, April, and May have been either cancelled or rebooked to alternative destinations. Prior to the conflict, the UAE was universally described as a "top seller" or "mass destination."
Current Sales Leaders
With the UAE closed, sales flows have visibly redirected to visa-free and Asian alternatives:
- Vietnam – mentioned as the primary replacement in over 80% of interviews (top choice in Russia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan).
- Turkey – second key substitute, though some Kyrgyz agencies noted a decline in Turkey demand as well.
- Egypt – consistently in the top three alternatives.
- Thailand – frequently cited, especially for Southeast Asian beach vacations.
- Minor replacements: China (Hainan), Maldives, Georgia, and Uzbekistan (excursion programs).
Europe is NOT Filling the Gap
Despite the Middle East closure, European destinations (Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Montenegro) have not increased in sales volume. The primary blockers reported are:
- Visa refusals – e.g., one agency reported only 4 out of 9 Schengen/Cyprus visa approvals last year.
- Complex logistics – multiple transfers (e.g., Tyumen to Heraklion requires 3 layovers) raising costs significantly.
- Greece (including Mitsis hotels in Crete, Rhodes, Kos) was highly popular pre-2022 but is now reduced to rare individual inquiries. One agency has a single group of 12 booked for a combined Greece tour in June 2026, but this is an isolated exception rather than a trend.
This sales analysis is derived from de-identified data collected during meetings conducted by Baginet, a creative advertising and consulting agency specializing in tourism representation and marketing for international hotels and destinations. A core part of Baginet's work involves direct, face-to-face engagement with the travel agent community. On average, Baginet's team conducts over 100 face-to-face meetings with travel agencies across Russia and the CIS every month.
