Russian tour operators report stronger demand for European trips

Russian tour operators say interest in European destinations has increased in 2026 despite visa and transport difficulties, Interfax reported on October 14.

Art-Tour chief executive Dmitry Arutyunov pointed to customers returning to familiar resorts in Greece, Sardinia and the French Riviera. He said European tourism businesses remained interested in visitors from Russia.

Anton Lavrukhin, commercial director of Sletat.ru and managing director of Let’s Fly, separately described steady demand for sightseeing and city breaks. He singled out France and Italy among countries and Paris and Milan among cities.

The report supplied no absolute traveller totals, growth percentages or common methodology. The statements therefore describe the companies’ observations of customers and bookings rather than verified statistics for the entire Russian travel market to Europe.