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Russian Spending Abroad Hits 11-Year Record at $23.3 Billion in Six Months
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Russians spent an estimated $23.3 billion on foreign travel in the first half of 2026, the highest amount for the period in 11 years, as a stronger ruble earlier in the year and disruptions affecting domestic and international travel routes boosted spending abroad.
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The figure comes from Russia’s Central Bank data on imports of services under the “travel” category, which largely reflects spending by Russian residents while abroad, The Moscow Times reported on August 15. The total was 14% higher than during the same period in 2025 and approached the $23.9 billion recorded in the first half of 2014.
Russia’s Central Bank estimated that overall services imports increased 16% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, reaching $87 billion. The regulator attributed part of the increase to higher average costs of foreign travel packages.
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Travel disruptions in the Middle East contributed to those higher prices. Fighting involving Iran forced some Russian tourists traveling to South and Southeast Asia to switch from connecting flights through the region to more expensive direct services.
Others postponed previously planned trips and faced higher prices when rebooking, according to the Central Bank’s balance-of-payments commentary cited by The Moscow Times.
A senior executive at a major Russian tour operator estimated that postponing trips during disruptions in the Persian Gulf in April increased their cost by around 10% to 20%. Direct flights to destinations such as Thailand and the Maldives can also cost roughly one-third more than connecting services, the executive said.
Foreign travel increased in volume as well. According to estimates from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia cited by The Moscow Times, Russians made approximately 9.5 million tourist trips abroad between January and June, an 8.7% increase from the same period last year.
Vietnam, China and Egypt accounted for nearly all of that growth, collectively adding about 1.3 million trips. China has also become more important as a destination and transit hub following the introduction of visa-free travel for Russians in September 2025.
The Central Bank noted that a growing share of Russian travelers heading to other Asian destinations also passed through Chinese airports.
In 2025, Russians spent an estimated $49.7 billion on foreign travel. The historical peak remains 2014, when annual spending abroad reached $50.4 billion.
The rise in foreign travel spending comes alongside broader Russian demand for options abroad. Demand for overseas property rose 20% in the first half of 2026, with analysts linking the increase partly to concerns over a possible new wave of military mobilization.
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