Thousands of travel agencies have begun to close in Russia
Russian media are reporting the widespread closure of travel agencies. The reasons cited include a drop in demand as Russians tighten their belts, as well as the fuel crisis and frequent airport closures caused by Ukrainian drone attacks.
Between January and June 2026, 2,700 travel agencies ceased operations in Russia. This is 52.3% more than a year earlier, according to Kommersant, citing data from Kontur.Focus. As a result, the growth in the number of travel agencies was the lowest in three years—just 0.84%.
Alexander Bragin, director of the Association of Travel Aggregators, cited Russians’ desire to cut travel expenses as the main factor behind the mass closures in the industry.
“We’re seeing a trend toward saving money, choosing cheaper vacation options, and slightly shortening the duration of trips,” he explained.
According to “Zlitay.ru,” the average cost of tours to Egypt rose by only 0.2% over the year, to Turkey by 1.5%, and to Thailand by 2.5%, while trips within Russia, as well as to Vietnam, the UAE, China, and unrecognized Abkhazia, showed a decline of 0.2–39.6%.
According to Travelata.ru’s estimates, the number of packaged tours booked within Russia from January through June fell by 31% year-over-year, while “Zlitay.ru” estimates the decline at 22%.
International destinations were unable to offset the losses caused by the U.S. war in Iran, which affected the entire Middle East: from early March to mid-June, sales of tours to a number of countries in the region were banned, and air service was restricted.
As a result, many travel agencies closed because they were unable to restructure their businesses following the drop in demand; broader economic factors, including tax increases, also played a role, Bragin noted.
As a reminder, on the night of July 7, Ukraine carried out a massive drone attack on Russian territory. The Belgorod and Moscow regions were targeted; Russian authorities reported that air defense systems were in continuous operation and that several airports were temporarily restricted.
On the night of June 22, Russian authorities reported a massive drone attack on Moscow and a number of other regions of the Russian Federation. According to Russian officials, 59 drones were allegedly destroyed as they approached the capital.
