Russia's recession is not limited to May

The recent tensions between India and Pakistan and the occasional closure of Pakistani airspace directly affect charter flights, especially to Far Eastern destinations such as Thailand and Vietnam . Extended flight times and increasing operational costs are causing some tour operators to turn to closer and easier-to-access destinations. This situation can be expected to create a limited shift in favor of Antalya; however, the impact of current security and geopolitical risks on tourism mobility is more dominant.

As of May 2025, a significant stagnation is observed in package tour sales departing from Russia . This stagnation is not limited to May alone, but also affects the June–July–August period . Tour operators have serious gaps in plane seats and hotel reservations until September.

The main reasons for this stagnation are:

* Geopolitical tensions centered on Ukraine and the Middle East (e.g. Iran-Israel, Pakistan-India) * Perception of uncertainty following drone attacks

* Economic contraction in Russia and the situation of the ruble

* Egypt 's dominance in the Russian market thanks to its aggressive pricing and subsidy policy

Egypt , in particular, has become the destination with the largest share of the Russian market throughout the 12 months with its attractive prices and sustainable flight support programs in both winter and summer seasons.

High season expectations for Antalya are lower than in previous years. If special support campaigns, price revisions or last minute promotions are not implemented in the short term, serious occupancy losses are likely to occur in the summer season. TGA and sector stakeholders need to quickly put new promotion and campaign strategies, especially for the Russian and CIS markets, into action.