Thailand has been named the top holiday destination for Russian travellers during the upcoming New Year break, according to travel agent Alina Shumilova.
Speaking to Russian news outlet NEWS.RU, Shumilova said Thailand heads the list of seasonal choices for holidaymakers heading abroad. She identified the resort island of Phuket, the coastal town of Khao Lak and Krabi province as the most popular destinations across the Southeast Asian country. Phuket remains Thailand's largest island, while Khao Lak, situated just to the north in Phang Nga province, and Krabi, located across the bay, offer coastal alternatives along the Andaman Sea.
Vietnam took second place among the preferred international getaways. Shumilova advised travellers to consider Phu Quoc, a resort island situated off the country's southwestern coast in the Gulf of Thailand that is widely known for its sandy beaches and tropical climate.
Winter sunshine options abroad
For travellers with different vacation preferences, Shumilova highlighted several other overseas alternatives. She noted that the Maldives is the ideal choice for people who want to disconnect from daily life, switch off their mobile phones and simply enjoy the ocean.
By contrast, she pointed to the United Arab Emirates as the destination for tourists who get bored spending all their time on the beach. Egypt, she added, serves as an excellent option for holidaymakers who prefer not to take long-haul flights across multiple time zones.
The annual New Year holiday is traditionally the longest public vacation period in Russia, running through the first week of January. Because winter temperatures drop well below freezing across much of the country, warm-weather destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa consistently experience high holiday demand.
Rising domestic costs and booking advice
The demand for foreign trips comes alongside rising prices for domestic winter travel. Earlier estimates revealed that a New Year holiday within Russia will cost a family at least 200,000 rubles.
With demand building across international and domestic routes, Shumilova advised Russian travellers to book their holiday packages immediately. She stressed that tour options offering the best balance of price and quality are always the first to sell out.
