The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) has lowered its growth forecast for outbound tourist flow to 8% from an initial 15% due to weaker demand. Turkey, Egypt, and Thailand remain the most popular destinations.
Russia expects a 60% increase in mutual tourist flow with China in 2026, reaching 4-4.5 million trips, driven by increased flights and competitive pricing.
Rome's historic center is increasingly reorganized around the scale and behavior of tourists, with temporary barriers, queues, and infrastructure becoming commonplace. The city's public spaces now prioritize visitor movement and reproduction of familiar images over permanence.
Russian official Nikita Kondratyev predicts mutual tourist flow between Russia and China could grow 50% in 2026, citing 50% growth in Q1. China extended visa-free regime through 2027.
China has extended its visa-free regime with Russia through the end of 2027. Experts predict this will boost tourist flow, with inbound travel to China potentially increasing by 20-25% this year and outbound travel from Russia by 30-40%.
Portofino will deploy a drone by June to monitor tourist flows and manage overcrowding using specialized software. The drone will count people and have a 24-hour battery life, primarily used between 12-17h. Privacy will be ensured as images will only be accessible to law enforcement. The initiative aims to manage the thousands of visitors arriving by land and sea, and also monitor Monte di Portofino for fires or missing persons.
The head of state thanked President Patrick Herminie for comfortable conditions created for Russian citizens in Seychelles
