UKRAINE CRISIS BRIEFING

Key Travel And Tourism  developments

Sector analysis from UK-based hotel booking platform hoo states that the Ukraine crisis could cost $10.6bn in lost tourism revenue across Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Moldova, with further impacts likely to be felt across neighbouring countries.

The loss of Russian and Ukrainian tourists will prolong the Covid-19 recovery timelines of specific destinations.

According to GlobalData, in 2021, combined outbound tourist expenditure from Russia and Ukraine accounted for 3.5% of total global outbound tourist expenditure.

With the conflict and sanctions impacting both economies, a significantly reduced number of travellers from both countries will be taking trips internationally in 2022, which will contribute to an uneven tourism recovery from the pandemic.

Under mounting pressure from Western sanctions, Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines, Ural Airlines, and Russian Railways have seen their revenue cut dramatically. Aeroflot, Russia's flagship airline, is now planning to raise up to $3bn in an emergency share issue. Passenger numbers for Aeroflot were down 8.2% YoY in the first nine months of 2022.

Egypt is now looking to capitalise on a lack of outbound options for Russian travellers, created by sanctions. In previous years, tourists from Russia and Ukraine have accounted for up to 40% of beach holidaymakers in Egypt, according to the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Chamber of Tourist Establishments.

According to the Russian tour agency Travelata, Egypt was in the top five tourist destinations for Russian tourists for the Summer of 2022. In October Egypt shelved plans to apply the Russian MIR payment card system in its resorts and hotels amid worries about possible US sanctions.