Recreation in the Crimea is experiencing a new shock. The flow of tourists to the annexed peninsula at the beginning of the tourist season fell by almost 40%, according to Deutsche Welle.

"Among the reasons for the decrease in Russian interest in the peninsula are high prices for air tickets and cold weather," DW notes.

The data provided by tour operators is confirmed by the owners of large and small hotels located on the southern coast of the Crimea.

"In May, there was a drop in the flow of tourists by 35-40%," said a hotel employee in the village of Koreiz (Big Yalta).

According to him, this likely indicates that number of vacationers in July-August will decrease by 20-30%.

Another factor, he said, is high prices and poor service in the Crimea. As a result, vacationers choose direct competitors.

"The Turks are now offering tours at very affordable prices. We cannot compete and lose," the hotel employee said.

He stressed that the wave of euphoria among the Russians fell: "Now you cannot go out on patriotism alone. The economic crisis also affected the solvency of Russian citizens. They began to spend less."

Russia annexed the Crimea in 2014 though the international community largely saw it as a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty then as it does now. The EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia. In particular, European investments in the Crimean economy are completely banned.

Sanctions also apply to the provision of tourist services in the Crimea and Sevastopol. Separately entry of cruise ships into the Crimean ports is forbidden. In accordance with the legislation of Ukraine, crossing the border from the territory of Russia to the Crimea is prohibited.

  Crimea, Tourism

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