Tour Operators Forecast 2026 Travel Trends for Yaroslavl Residents
The New Year holidays have just ended, and Russians are already making plans for summer vacations. Tour operators believe that February is the time to start planning. The editorial board of 76.RU reached out to the director of the Tour Assistance (Turpomoshch) association and vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, Alexander Osaulenko, and the Yaroslavl Tourist Association (YTO) Group of Companies to find out which destinations will be popular in 2026.
When to Buy Tickets and Book Accommodation in 2026
Alexander Osaulenko, in a conversation with 76.RU, noted that the second half of February is the prime time for planning a vacation. Otherwise, you might miss the chance to buy tickets and book accommodation for the summer. This is also when tour operators typically present their new routes.
«In January, tour operators are in the process of developing their product within travel companies. From the end of the month, presentation events begin—exhibitions and fairs where the finished product is showcased. This means it will be available in companies by February,» clarified the director of the Tour Assistance association.
The Yaroslavl Tourist Association (YTO) Group of Companies, in turn, noted the booking habits of Yaroslavl residents. They begin planning their summer vacations well in advance.
«The first wave of active booking traditionally occurs in September–October of the preceding year, the second in January–March of the current year,» noted the tour operators.
Where to Go on Vacation in 2026
The director of the Tour Assistance association shared that this year many Russians are planning to go to the sea. Residents of different regions are considering the coasts of the Black, Azov, Caspian, and Japanese Seas.
Alexander Osaulenko also clarified that after the man-made emergency in Anapa, the flow of people to the Black Sea decreased. However, the expert believes the situation is gradually stabilizing.
By the end of the 2025 summer season, as the expert reports, the authorities announced that almost all consequences of the disaster had been eliminated. The director of the Tour Assistance association believes there is pent-up demand for this direction.
«We expect that the Black Sea and Azov Sea coasts in 2026 will experience serious peak loads,» added the specialist.
Among Yaroslavl residents, as noted by local tour operators, there is still demand for the Russian Black Sea coast. Krasnodar Krai and Crimea remain the top summer beach destinations. However, as explained by the Yaroslavl Tourist Association (YTO) Group of Companies, Yaroslavl residents are increasingly looking not just for «sea and beach,» but for added value. Thematic programs, gastronomic, and wine tours are especially in demand.
The organization also clarified that trends from 2024–2025 are confidently projected onto 2026. According to the Yaroslavl Tourist Association (YTO) Group of Companies, the following destinations will be popular among Yaroslavl residents in the summer:
Tours to Belarus remain the leaders. Yaroslavl residents often travel to Minsk, Brest, and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Belovezhskaya Forest);
Many residents of the region choose trips to the Caucasus. Tour operators offer vacations in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, and Dagestan;
Among air tours, Yakutia (Sakha Republic, Russia), Kaliningrad, and Altai are trending.
«These destinations are valued for the richness of their programs, accessibility, and novelty of experiences for many tourists,» noted the company.
How Much Does a Vacation Cost for Yaroslavl Residents
The Yaroslavl Tourist Association (YTO) Group of Companies shared which destinations in 2026 will be the most cost-effective. We are sharing options for week-long vacations.
Prices for two adults:
Budget vacation (from 60,000 RUB, about $660 at current rates, for two). You can go on bus tours to Belarus, Kazan, Arkhangelsk (incidentally, a hit in 2025);
Mid-range budget (from 115,000 RUB, about $1,300 at current rates, for two). Tour operators offer package tours to Egypt (3–4 star hotels, conditional rating), sightseeing tours in the Caucasus, Krasnodar Krai (spring–autumn), bus tours to Georgia, and CIS countries;
Above average (from 200,000 RUB, about $2,200 at current rates, for two). You«ll have to spend on distant destinations within Russia (Yakutia, Lake Baikal, Altai).
Specialists clarified that prices for family vacations with children will be higher. You should aim for an amount 1.3–1.5 times higher than for two. Family travelers often find it more advantageous to look for early booking or special promotions like «children free/discounted.»
Where to Go on Vacation in Spring
Some Yaroslavl residents plan to go on vacation as early as spring. To avoid crowds of tourists during the May holidays but travel in good weather, experts recommend considering April offers.
The Yaroslavl Tourist Association (YTO) Group of Companies noted that in April, Yaroslavl residents choose two main vectors:
Families with children prefer warm beach destinations where it«s already comfortable to swim. Trips to Egypt are one option;
Weekend sightseeing tours are popular among Yaroslavl residents. Trips for 3–5 days are in demand. Travel agencies offer rich literary tours to Yaroslavl residents; for example, you can go to the Pushkin Mountains (Pushkinskiye Gory) — Mikhailovskoye, Trigorskoye. Also, residents of the region often choose thematic tours to big cities: Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Kaliningrad.
How Tourism is Developing in Russia
The vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry noted in a conversation with 76.RU that more than 40 countries have direct air service with Russia. As vacation options, the expert suggests considering Southeast Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East.
At the same time, the specialist noted that Russians prefer to travel within their own country. Travel agencies, in turn, are increasing the variety of such routes.
«If we look at the geography, then, of course, now, undoubtedly, domestic tourism is predominant in terms of dynamics. The geography is expanding, and the range of tour products is increasing significantly,» explained Alexander Osaulenko.
He also added that Russians often travel within their own country, and tourism is oriented toward the domestic market. The expert believes that people rarely travel far from home nowadays. Car routes covering 500–700 km (310–435 miles) are widespread in the country. Therefore, many travel directly within their own region or in nearby regions.
