Residents of St. Petersburg and Moscow prefer to vacation in Sochi and the Caucasus in spring, according to a representative of ScanTour tour operator. At this time prices for accommodation in Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana are reduced, a week's stay in a hotel costs from 50 to 80 thousand rubles, and air travel is cheaper.

You can enjoy thermal springs and mountain landscapes in Ossetia, and in Dagestan - early flowering and clean mountain air. Prices for a vacation in the Caucasus are 71 thousand rubles for six days, said company representative Daria Sereda.

Mountain Altai also attracts tourists, especially the village of Kupchegen with blooming maralnik. The blooming of Ledeburus rhododendron begins in late April - early May, but this year the flowers will open earlier - in mid-April.

In Karelia tourists visit the eco-park “Valley of Waterfalls”, where they can enjoy wildlife and eco-trails. Roman Tsvetkov, General Director of the company, explains that Karelia is popular at the end of April - May, when navigation on the lakes begins. Tourists can relax on a water trip, visit the islands of Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki and get acquainted with the culture of the region and the whole of Russia.

Author: Наталья Чудесатова

Russia's international air service with other countries is expanding. Last year, direct flights were opened with Vietnam, Indonesia and Bahrain.

Tour traffic to Russia from abroad in 2024 increased by more than a third compared to 2023 - up to 4.2 million people, according to the press service of the Russian government.

Citizens of the Middle East and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Qatar, have become more active in visiting Russia.

In 2024, tourist flow to Russia from Southeast Asian countries, in particular from Indonesia and Malaysia, has quadrupled. The PRC and India also show growth: twice and 30% respectively.

The Cabinet of Ministers noted that the effect is given by the previously launched measures: electronic visa, group visa-free travel, promotion of Russia's tourist brand abroad.

The international air communication of the Russian Federation with other countries is also expanding. Last year direct flights were opened with Vietnam, Indonesia and Bahrain. The route network with the PRC, UAE, Uzbekistan and Belarus has significantly expanded.

Earlier it was reported that S7 Airlines is selling tickets at a discount of up to 50%.

Author: Наталья Чудесатова