The average check for the winter holidays in Egypt increased by 23.6%, the United Arab Emirates – by 25.5%, Sletat.ru told RG. This season, tours to Egypt cost an average of $2.2,000 for two, compared to $1.8,000 last year. To travel in the United Arab Emirates this year they pay an average of 3.7 thousand dollars, while in the past it was about 3 thousand dollars.
At the same time, at the lowest price for a package tour at the end of January, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates continue to lead, says Maya Lomidze, executive director of the Russian Association of Tour Operators. In these countries you can relax for 10 nights for less than 100 thousand rubles. for two.
Tourist spending on holidays in other destinations has also increased throughout the year, but not as markedly. Thus, according to the aggregator, the cost of trips to Sri Lanka increased from 2.7 to 3.1 thousand dollars (+15%), to the Maldives – from 7.6 thousand to 7.9 thousand dollars (+4%). , to Thailand, from 3.1 to 3.3 thousand dollars (+6.5%), and the Seychelles even dropped in price from 10.9 thousand to 6.5 thousand dollars (-40%).
Fun&Sun also talks about an increase in the average ticket for trips to Egypt by 40%, and in the United Arab Emirates – by 30%. The representative of the tour operator explained that in 2022 they flew to Egypt without restrictions, and there were many charters, and now the volume of transportation is often limited.
At the same time, the increase in prices during the New Year holidays no longer influences. The average ticket to Sri Lanka in February decreased by 20% and to Thailand – by 30% compared to the New Year holidays, the company added.
Thus, the main contribution to the growth in the cost of tours was made by air transportation, which has risen in price. Elena Shelekhova, head of the press service for the OneTwoTrip travel planning service, notes that if in 2022 the average cost of one-way tickets with a flight in January-February to Hurghada was 8.3 thousand rubles, then to Sharm el -Sheikh – 11.3 thousand rubles , so this year such flights already cost 21.7 thousand rubles and 24.5 thousand rubles, respectively. Namely, airline tickets to Egypt’s resorts have more than doubled in value. In other areas, the growth is smaller, but also quite tangible. Flights to Sri Lanka on average became more expensive by 43% (38 thousand rubles one way), to the United Arab Emirates – by 6% (13.7 thousand rubles), to Thailand – by 34% (40 thousand rubles). the Maldives – by 8% (43 thousand rubles). Hotels also increased in price, but between 7% and 20%.
The flight now abroad has become 2-3 times more expensive than last year, said Yury Barzykin, vice-president of the Russian Union of the Travel Industry. This seriously affects the flow of tourists. By the end of 2022, just over 9 million tourists visited abroad, which is slightly less than in 2021, but twice less than in the pre-Covid period, he notes.
There are fewer flights abroad than a year ago due to insurance difficulties, sky shutdowns by some countries and the threat of aircraft arrest. At the same time, there is demand, so prices are going up. Fewer Russians can now afford vacations abroad than in January-February 2022, so as a result, the market is balanced: available flights to beach resorts are full.
In this context, Turkey remains a popular destination even in winter. In January-February 2023, the popularity of Turkey, according to Sletat.ru, increased by 9 pp compared to 2022, from 35 to 44% of total bookings.
