OREANDA-NEWS. When choosing a place for a future holiday, Russians are now guided not so much by political motives as by security issues, Alexander Osaulenko, director of the Turpomoshch Association of Outbound Tourism Tour Operators, told the Slovo i Delo publication. According to him, many still remember how all borders were closed due to the coronavirus and people had to spend huge sums to return to their homeland.

We recently faced a situation where all the borders were closed overnight and people returned home, spending just crazy money. Of course, the Russians have such fears, and they are well-founded. This will greatly influence the choice of direction,” the expert said.

Also, when choosing the direction of a future holiday, Osaulenko advises taking into account the anti-Russian steps that Western states are taking. According to him, now there are many examples of inadequate response to the national identity of our tourists. This is one of the factors that seriously affect the personal safety of the tourist and, as a result, the choice of vacation destination.

Osaulenko added that the Russians still have a choice. They can go on vacation to Turkey, Egypt, the Caribbean, North Africa, Southeast Asia, as well as Belarus, Armenia and Abkhazia.

Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Head of the International Committee of the Federation Council, said earlier that Russians now have nothing to do in Europe. He recommended that Russian citizens refrain from traveling abroad against the backdrop of the situation in Bucharest, where a car crashed into the gates of the Russian embassy.