- Category
- World
Crimea Tourism Losses Surge 96% as Ukrainian Strikes Hit Travel Industry
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko]( "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
The travel sector in temporarily occupied Crimea incurred over 4 billion rubles ($46 million) in losses during the first six months of 2026.
This figure marks a 95.7% increase compared to the same period last year, based on Russian state statistics data reviewed by the media outlet Verstka.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
Financial losses peaked in May at 850 million rubles ($9.8 million), coinciding with increased strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against power facilities and supply routes on the peninsula.
Industry profits dropped by 60% over the same period. Local travel companies earned roughly 530 million rubles ($6.1 million) between January and June, down from nearly 1.3 billion rubles ($15 million) the previous year.
In July, the volume of paid tour operator services in Crimea fell by nearly 55% compared to last year, while Sevastopol recorded a drop of about 73%. Hotel revenues dropped by 74% and 10% in these respective areas.
Disturbances in electricity and water supply, alongside shortages of fuel and specific goods, have impacted the peninsula since May due to Ukrainian attacks. A regional state of emergency has been active since June 26. According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, roughly 1 million trips to Crimea and Sevastopol were canceled by the end of July.
The organization estimated total canceled bookings at 20 to 25 billion rubles ($230 million to $288 million), with 5 to 7 billion rubles ($58 million to $81 million) of that total directly affecting tour operators.
In July, the Russian cabinet allocated over 4.3 billion rubles ($49.6 million) to support the sector. Out of this funding, 3.7 billion rubles ($42.7 million) were directed to Crimea and 584.5 million rubles ($6.7 million) to Sevastopol. The payouts were intended to reach employees across more than 4,600 travel enterprises.
By late August, local businesses operating in tourism and other sectors received deferrals on insurance contributions, along with extensions on debt collection deadlines. On-site tax audits for these businesses were also suspended.
In September, regional authorities announced plans to submit a bill to the State Duma seeking nationwide support for the local hospitality industry. The regional minister of resorts and tourism, Sergey Ganziy, noted that the measures introduced by the federal government remain insufficient, pointing to tourist refunds for pre-booked trips as one of the most critical challenges.
Earlier, Russia’s State Duma backed a proposal to introduce a special fee on citizens traveling abroad.
Lawmaker Sangadzhi Tarbayev said the measure is intended to redirect spending into the domestic tourism sector, arguing that money spent overseas could instead support the local economy and create jobs.
Discuss this article:
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-dbb73feba15e78ec8299ed4fbcb1abf1.jpg "NATO Airspace Breached With Romania Scrambling F-18 Jets Near Moldovan Border")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")