Significant increase in early bookings for Türkiye
The sale of package holidays to Türkiye as part of early booking campaigns in Russia has surged by 25-30% compared to same period of last year. Tour operators report that they have already sold approximately one-quarter of the planned tours for the 2025 summer season. Furthermore, 70% of package tours to Türkiye for the May holidays have already been purchased.
Türkiye leads among international destinations
Artur Muradyan, Vise President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATIR) and the General Director of Space Travel, emphasized that Türkiye will continue to be the most preferred international holiday destination for Russian tourists in the 2025 summer season. According to Space Travel data, Türkiye accounts for 45% of all summer package tours, followed by Egypt with 30% and the United Arab Emirates with 10%. The remaining 15% is shared among Thailand, the Maldives, and Vietnam.
Muradyan highlighted that Türkiye’s luxury and ultra-luxury hotels are now competing with the Maldives in terms of pricing and quality, while Egypt and the UAE are unable to rival Türkiye in this segment.
Strong demand for May holiday tours
Muradyan noted that 70% of tours planned for the May holiday period have already been sold. The increasing demand is attributed to the extended May holiday, which provides an opportunity for a short getaway, as well as the strengthening of the Russian ruble. Tour sales for the May holiday period are expected to peak in early April.
However, he clarified that the impact of May holiday bookings on the overall summer season remains limited. "Reservations for the first ten days of May account for only 5% of total summer season sales," Muradyan stated.
Package tour prices range from 120,000 to 500,000 rubles
According to the ATOR bulletin, tour operators have adjusted their pricing strategies to align with market expectations rather than aiming for excessively high profit margins. As of 2025, hotel prices in Türkiye have been structured accordingly. Currently, the starting price for a two-person trip to Türkiye is around 120,000 rubles, while the cost in the luxury segment can range between 400,000 and 500,000 rubles.
Muradyan advised against expecting last-minute deals for Türkiye in the summer season, noting that prices are unlikely to drop significantly unless airline competition increases. He pointed out that 35-40% of package tour prices to Türkiye currently consist of airfare costs. "Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the reduction in charter flights and the widespread adoption of the block seat reservation system have limited the ability of tour operators to significantly lower prices," he explained.
Tourist influx dependent on exchange rates
The number of Russian tourists traveling to Türkiye in 2025 is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels, around seven million visitors. However, this growth is contingent on the exchange rate of the Russian ruble. Muradyan stated that if the ruble-euro exchange rate remains at 80-85, tourism demand for Türkiye will increase. However, if the exchange rate exceeds 110, growth in the sector may stagnate.
