Russia’s outbound tourism surged 16.4% in 2025, with trips to the UAE and Maldives rising by 23% and to Saudi Arabia and Egypt climbing over 30%, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported to TASS.
Around 17.5 million Russians traveled abroad over the year, including 11.3 million through tour operators — figures approaching pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Turkey remained the undisputed leader with nearly 6.94 million visitors, though its share of organized tours dipped 6.4% as other destinations gained ground. The UAE took second place, hosting 2.45 million Russian tourists (up 23% from 2024), followed by Egypt in third with about 2 million arrivals (up 35%).
Thailand also saw strong growth, welcoming around 1.95 million visitors (up 11.7%), while the Maldives drew approximately 277,000 (up 23%) and Indonesia about 215,000 (up 26%). Saudi Arabia emerged as a breakout destination, attracting roughly 50,000 tourists — a 31% increase.
The premium segment expanded notably, with travelers opting for higher-end hotels and add-on services even in familiar spots. Average tour costs for two in Turkey rose 13%, and in Egypt 10%, largely due to bookings at upscale properties.
“Overall, the outbound market nearly fully recovered to pre-COVID volumes, with a decline in the dominance of a few key destinations and greater diversity in offerings,” the agency added.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS