Holiday bookings up 18% in 2026
Quick Look
- In 2026, travel bookings for the high season increased by 18% compared to last year, with the share of foreign trips rising to 57% versus 49% a year earlier.
- Leading destinations include Dagestan, North Ossetia, Altai, as well as Uzbekistan, Georgia, Turkey, China and Morocco, with demand for Uzbekistan more than doubling.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Velvet Season is a period of autumn that is popular for travel due to mild weather and fewer tourists. In 2026, there is an increase in demand for domestic and foreign destinations among Russians.
This year, travel bookings for the high season have already increased by 18 percent compared to the previous year. At the same time, the share of foreign trips has increased significantly, NSN reports, citing a statement by the founder of RussiaDiscovery, Vadim Mamontov.
“According to colleagues from YouTravel.me, this year there have been 18 percent more bookings for autumn than a year ago on the same date. Apparently, this is pent-up demand, which has moved to the velvet season,” he said.
The top destinations, as Mamontov noted, included Dagestan, North Ossetia, and Altai. Among foreign destinations, citizens choose Uzbekistan, Georgia, Turkey, China, Morocco. “Demand for Uzbekistan has more than doubled. Foreign trips already account for 57 percent of the velvet season, while last year their share was only 49 percent,” the expert stated.
It was previously reported that Russians flocked to St. Petersburg in October 2026. Moscow took second place with a share of 19.9 percent. Four percent of Russians chose Adler, and 3.5 percent chose a vacation in Sochi.
Open Questions
- What factors contributed to the more than doubling of demand for Uzbekistan?
- How will travel prices change during the high season due to increased demand?
- Will the increase in demand for foreign travel continue in subsequent seasons?
