Flights and tourist traffic from Russia amidst pandemic

Russia, Abkhazia, Turkey and Tanzania have become the most popular destinations for organized tourists for the New Year holidays.

Tourist flow from Russia to Turkey for 11 months of 2020 decreased in annual terms by more than three times. Over 11 months of 2020, more than 2 million Russians have visited Turkey.

More than 2,7 million Russians traveled abroad in 2020, which is 77% less than a year earlier.

Intourist tour operator began to offer tours to Russians at the resorts of the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Turkey for the summer season of 2021.

Rosaviatsia has returned to Ufa airport the opportunity to serve international flights. Nowadays, the route network to foreign countries from Ufa is still limited by Turkey. Also, direct flights from Ufa to Zanzibar are planned to be performed since November.

Leading federal tour operators continue to expand their flight programs as the number of cities has been restored for abroad flights.

Azur air - will fly to Istanbul from Novosibirsk. The first direct flight to Turkey's largest metropolis will depart on October 29. Travel agents believe that the flights will be in demand in the regions neighboring Novosibirsk.

The results of a study, conducted by the analytical company Turizmdatabank on a rating of tour operators in Antalya, have been published.

Turkey from January to August was visited by 772,7 thousand Russians, more tourists came only from Germany. This figure is 84% less than in the same period a year earlier (4,8 million).

According to tour operators, due to seasonal demand for beach vacations and the recent launch of charters for Turkish resorts, the sales of tours to Istanbul are not yet in full dynamic.

From the beginning of September, Intourist will carry out direct flights to Antalya from Yekaterinburg and Mineralnye Vody with a technical landing at Rostov-on-Don airport.

In August, Russia resumed flights to Turkey. In the first week since the restart of the charters, 111 thousand Russians arrived in Antalya alone. According to the forecasts of the Turkish side, in August the resort will host more than 450 thousand tourists from Russia.

In connection with the lifting of restrictions on flights abroad from three more cities in Russia, tour operators announce the launch of new charter programs to Turkey.

Online travel agencies note an increase in the number of bookings of air tickets abroad. Most air passengers buy tickets to Turkey and Montenegro.

Over the first two weeks of August, 325 000 foreign tourists visited Antalya, among them 106 thousand are Russians, 74 thousand - Ukrainians, 48 thousand - Germans. If the trend continues, by the end of the year, Antalya, according to experts, will be visited by at least 3 million Russian tourists.

Alanya is on the top in terms of bookings among four major players this August. This was due to the traditionally lower prices for hotels at this resort.

Prices for accommodation in Turkish hotels of all categories are now reduced by at least 20% compared to last year.

From September 1, the Russian authorities may approve the launch of international flights from the airports of Yekaterinburg and Kazan.

Every second tourist arriving at the main Turkish resort in recent days is a citizen of the Russian Federation. Russia has become the undisputed leader in the number of tourist arrivals in Antalya.

In foreign destinations this season the tourist flow may reach totally up to 4,5-5 million people.

The Russian Federation from Monday resumes passenger flights to the Turkish resort cities of Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman.

The first regular flight has departed Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport following the resumption of international flights.

More than 270 hotels on the Antalya coast of Turkey are already ready to host Russian tourists, the list is constantly expanding.

Turkish Airlines is the first foreign carrier to resume flights between St. Petersburg and Turkish cities. The flights from St. Petersburg to Istanbul will start on August 2, to Antalya - on August 4, 2020.