Travel in Russia

The Skift Travel Health Index indicates a bright tourism outlook this summer. The latest June 2023 Highlights Report shows global travel performance outpacing 2019 levels by 4 percentage points. The index now stands at 104, gaining 1 point over the previous month.

As the summer travel heats up, a surprising trend is emerging: Russia is experiencing a tourism uptick, according to the latest Skift Travel Health Index for June 2024. Despite the ongoing war, tourism performance in the country in June 2024 witnessed a 12 percentage point surge over May 2024. The index is at 103, which indicates a 3% rise above June 2023.

Air India's new flagship aircraft will make its hotly anticipated U.S. debut later this year.

North Korea plans to open its much-talked about Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone within the next 12 months. The tourist site is set for an inauguration on May 2025, state media reported on Thursday.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, July 18, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. 

The UAE-born Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has posted combined room revenues of $1.3 billion for the first six months of this year, 18% more than in the first half of 2023.

Virgin Atlantic is withdrawing from China after 25 years. The last round-trip for the company’s London to Shanghai service will be on October 25. The British airline cited “significant challenges and complexities” for the commercially motivated decision.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is aiming to increase tourism revenue in the country by 7.5% next year.

Jul 15, 2024 • 5 min read

International air travel from China is recovering, but set to remain at a fraction of what it was in 2019, according to data platform OAG. 

Real estate billionaire Vladislav Doronin has built a hospitality empire beloved by celebrities and the ultrawealthy.

Heatwaves and floods have had a hugely detrimental impact on India’s tea production, with excessive heat in May followed by flooding in Assam hitting output level. As a result it's estimated that the average price of tea could rise by up to a fifth.

A group of Russian schoolchildren will attend a summer camp in North Korea at the end of July.

In the first half of 2024, Egypt’s tourism sector revenues grew by 5% to $6.6 billion, compared to $6.3 billion in the same period of 2023. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt received 7.069 million tourists from January to June 2024, surpassing the previous year’s 7.062 million tourists. This marks a slight 0.1% increase from 2023.

Lufthansa Group lowered its outlook for the year, saying that its flagship carrier is struggling to break even. It cited negative market trends and aircraft delivery delays for the shift. 

Travel is predicted to reach record highs this summer, with plenty of events worth traveling for like the Olympics in Paris and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour storming Europe. This month, savvy travelers among us can be expected to avoid the crowds while maximizing comfort during their airport experiences at the newest lounges while using the best loyalty program and credit card perks. You can become one such savvy traveler too: Along the way, you can pad your account balances with bonus miles and points promotions to help with planning that next trip for this summer and beyond.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Yuri Frolov, 25, who in 2015 and 2016 attended North Korea's Songdowon International Children's Camp, where some Russian children will be sent this summer. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Indonesia is planning to introduce visa-free entry for tourists from 20 nations, including India. The country’s tourism minister, Sandiaga Uno, has announced that the policy is in the works and it will be finalized before October this year. The move aims to boost international tourism in Indonesia, Uno said. 

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is witnessing a resurgence. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka reported that earnings from tourism soared to over $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a 78% increase year-on-year.

Move over, Jeff Bezos. Mark Zuckerberg is looking like this summer's Poseiden.

Kyiv International Airport, which had been closed since the war began, was specially opened up to welcome the ten, some of whom flew in by helicopter whilst others arrived by bus.

The European Union on Thursday signed a security agreement with Ukraine, pledging to continue providing the war-torn country with military, financial, diplomatic and humanitarian support over the long term.