In February, the majority of Russians opted for domestic travel, with 65% of bookings made within the country—a significant 18% increase compared to the previous year. Moscow remains the top choice, accounting for 24.9% of all domestic bookings. Following closely is St. Petersburg, attracting 12.5% of travelers, while Sochi rounds out the top three with 7.3% of reservations. However, the popularity of these cities has slightly declined compared to last year.
Beyond the top three, cities like Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, and Krasnodar also saw significant interest from travelers.
For international trips, Istanbul remains the most sought-after destination, with 7.4% of Russian tourists choosing it, though this marks a 25% drop from last year. Dubai, on the other hand, saw a 45% surge in popularity, securing second place with 6.5% of bookings. Bangkok ranks third, with 3.5% of travelers heading there, despite a 40% decline in interest.
In 2024, demand for trips to Almaty tripled, while Milan became 50% more popular. Kazakhstan's appeal is largely due to its convenient logistics, with daily direct flights from Moscow and affordable train tickets starting at 6,000 rubles. Bus routes from cities like Omsk, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg further enhance accessibility. Business travel to Kazakhstan has also grown, now accounting for 40% of all trips to the country.
Overall, Russians made 2.8 million trips to Kazakhstan in 2024, reflecting the strengthening ties between the two nations.
