state duma Considers Banning  russians from Travelling Abroad

Travel abroad may become unattainable for russians. The state duma is considering a proposal to ban citizens from holidaying in NATO countries, including Turkey, during wartime.

This move coincided with a decline in interest in domestic tourism: the share of russians planning to holiday exclusively within the country fell  by 5 %. This is influenced by the strengthening of the ruble, subsidies for foreign tourism in other countries, and high prices for holidays in russia.

Domestic travel is becoming less affordable due to expensive hotels, high transportation costs, and poor infrastructure. Wealthy tourists prefer to travel abroad, while most russians cannot afford to holiday even within russia.

The government promises to “rescue” the sector, but only on a declarative level: without an increase in the welfare of the population, tourism will remain inaccessible to ordinary russians.