The European Union has imposed a new package of sanctions that prohibits the organization of travel, whether individual or group, to Russia.

The European Union has published a new sanctions package, the 19th, which prohibits the organization and promotion of tourist trips to Russia, both individual and group. This decision comes against the backdrop of a significant decline in tourism in Russia, which recorded only 200,100 foreign tourists in 2022, compared to over five million in 2019. Travel agencies are now required to comply with these restrictions, and offenders may face fines of up to one million leva in Bulgaria and, in some cases, imprisonment.

Although demand for tourism in Russia has drastically decreased, there are still travelers seeking information, but agencies no longer offer services in this direction. Currently, agencies are redirecting clients to alternative destinations, such as Georgia or Kyrgyzstan, which have seen an increase in demand. Tourist guides in Russia are noticing a decline in international tourists, and French travel agencies no longer collaborate with Russia due to logistical difficulties.