Russians spent nearly $50 billion on overseas travel in 2025, nearing a historic peak as a stronger ruble and better air links fueled demand, preliminary Central Bank data showed. Travel-related service imports totaled $49.7 billion, just shy of the 2014 record of $50.4 billion and the second-highest level since records began in 2001.
Spending jumped by more than a quarter, or $10.9 billion, compared with 2024. Outlays peaked in December at $5.67 billion, nearly doubling the services trade deficit from November. The Central Bank linked the spike to typical year-end travel demand.
However, the surge widened Russia’s services gap. While foreign visitors spent $8.9 billion inside Russia, up modestly by $1.3 billion, the travel balance deficit expanded sharply. Officials also cited rising services imports and weaker exports as key reasons the current account surplus fell to $41.4 billion in 2025 from $62.6 billion a year earlier.
Popular Destinations and Domestic Challenges
Outbound trips rose strongly. Border data showed tourist journeys climbed 15.6% to 13.4 million, while total international trips reached 31.5 million, up 8% year-on-year. Turkey remained the top destination, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, China, and Thailand.
Organized tourism outpaced the broader market, with package tour sales rising 25–30%. Industry groups credited favorable exchange rates, new long-haul routes, and simplified visas. China’s visa-free entry for Russians boosted demand sharply, while new transit routes increased travel to East Asia.
Meanwhile, domestic tourism faced headwinds. Higher accommodation and airfare costs dampened demand despite a modest rise in internal trips. Regional disruptions, including beach closures in southern resorts and infrastructure bottlenecks, also weighed on local travel recovery.
