A senior official has voiced strong concerns over the number of Russian tourists visiting the EU,describing it as “completely too high” and a significant issue for both security and morality. The official warned that with such a volume of visitors, the possibility of individuals involved in war crimes being present in EU resorts cannot be dismissed, deeming this scenario “unacceptable.”
While overall tourist numbers across the EU remain at a fraction of pre-pandemic and pre-invasion levels from 2019, there are notable variations between member states. Eurostat data for 2024 indicates that only six EU countries have seen an increase in accommodation bookings by Russians through platforms like Airbnb.
Italy recorded the highest growth, with a 18.9 percent increase in bookings, totaling 321,678 nights, making it the most popular destination in Europe for Russian tourists.France holds the third position, with 203,072 accommodation bookings annually, marking a 7.8 percent rise and representing the fourth-largest growth rate in Europe.
oro uostas / imago/ramil sitdicov / Image/sna
Spain is the second most popular destination, with 259,068 nights booked, a 3.6 percent decrease compared to the previous year, according to the EU’s statistical agency. Hungary has seen a 13 percent increase in accommodation bookings by Russians, a trend noted in the context of its government’s perceived favorable stance towards Russia.
While not part of the EU, the United Kingdom’s data, which differs slightly from EU figures, would place it seventh in terms of Russian tourist numbers, following Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus.
