FX.co ★ Popular places among Russians to celebrate New Year

Thailand is the most popular foreign travel destination. Online travel agency Sletat.ru says that 16.70% of search queries account for Thailand.

Krasnodar krai is on the first place among popular domestic destinations (47.34% of requests for tours in Russia). Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Oleg Safonov explains the increased interest of Russians in domestic tourism by a significant improvement in infrastructure and more favorable prices in comparison with overseas travel.

Thailand provides tourists with an all-inclusive package. Travelers have a wide choice: sightseeing and educational tours, Spa treatment, wellness programs, facilities with medical recreation and Spa programs. According to experts’ estimates, this year more than 5.5 million people will go to Thailand to celebrate the New Year.

The third place among domestic travel destinations goes to Moscow and the Moscow region (5.56% of requests).

Turkey closes the top three foreign destinations (7.52% of search queries). In 2014 and 2015, the absolute leader of outbound tourism on New Year's holidays was Egypt (24-26%), whereas Thailand occupied the second place (19-20%).

The Republic of Karelia ranks fourth among domestic holiday destinations (3.23% of requests).

Vietnam is on the fourth place among foreign holiday destinations. According to tour operators, New Year's holidays will cost between 112-160 thousand rubles for two persons. Some people prefer going to Spain as it is the cheapest offer for a week in a four-star hotel. The minimum price starts at 66 540 rubles.

St. Petersburg and Leningrad region close the top 5 popular travel destinations within the country (1.97% of requests). India is on the fifth place among foreign travel destinations.

The sixth place is occupied by the Czech Republic as the most popular foreign holiday destination and by Karachay-Cherkessia as the domestic one.

Tour managers note that the cost of a 5-day holiday in Russia starts at 14,500 rubles per person.

Kaliningrad region takes the seventh place among the most popular domestic holiday destinations. Kaliningrad is in the top 5 flight bookings for the New Year's holiday along with Makhachkala, Mineralnye Vody, Simferopol and Sochi, data from Aviasales service showed. The price of tickets will range from 12-13 thousand rubles round trip.

Curiously enough, in foreign ratings, Russia takes the seventh place among places for New Year’s holidays.

The eighth place among foreign destinations goes to the Dominican Republic. This is one of the most expensive offers where vacationers will have to pay from 173, 340 rubles for a week tour in a four-star hotel for two persons. Another most expensive foreign destination was Austria (the cost starts at 175, 476 rubles).

Vologda Oblast is on the eighth place in the domestic rating. Notably, this is a place where Father Frost's official residence Veliky Ustyug is situated.

The ninth place is occupied by the Stavropol region and China.

On the last place, Sri Lanka and the Republic of Tatarstan are located.