Tour operators have found a replacement for Hainan

On February 19, tour operators spoke about an alternative for the island of Hainan that they are ready to offer Russian tourists.

So, Tez Tour has expanded its own flight program to the UAE resorts on the boards of iFly. Direct charters to Dubai will start flying twice a week from Moscow (from February 22), and also every 10 days from Yekaterinburg (from February 23), Kazan (from February 26) and Ufa (from March 1). At the same time, the daily flights of Air Arabia from Moscow to Sharjah and from St. Petersburg to Dubai are in effect twice a week on Emirates.

“The cost of tours to the Emirates is comparable to similar offers at the resorts of Hainan this winter. For example, a week on the basis of breakfast you can buy from 385 Euros per person,” says Svetlana Baranova, head of the Tez Ttour PR service.

At the moment, the issue of other destinations for Azur Air (an affiliate airline of Anex Tour) is under approval. However, the tour operator reported about the extension of the flight program to Sri Lanka from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. “The program with a departure from the regions was extended to April, with a departure from Moscow - until May 12. In February, we’ll launch additional flights from the regions to Dubai: two flights a week from Ekaterinburg, Ufa and Kazan,” says Alena Khitrova, head of the PR department of Anex Tour.

Representatives of travel agencies note a high demand for these destinations both from the capital and from the regions. “Interest in the UAE will always be high,” said Maria Bekerina, general director of the Geography agencies network. Experts explain such love with the climate, the absence of a visa barrier, the diversity of the hotel base and the ability to choose the option for any vacation. But, according to the CEO of Pink Elephant agencies network, Alexan Mkrtchyan, Sri Lanka has greater potential: “It's warmer there and tours are cheaper.”