Passenger traffic on tourist routes increased by 60% over the first nine months of 2026.
From January to September 2026, tourist river routes in Russia served 722,700 passengers, marking a 60% increase compared to the same period last year. Overall passenger transport on domestic waterways also saw growth: over nine months, 12.1 million people used these services, which is 9.6% higher than the figure for the previous year.
River cruises offer a unique perspective on Russian cities and natural landscapes. Cruise routes connect historic centres, small Volga towns, monasteries, and natural areas that are easily accessible by water. For travellers, this is an opportunity to combine multiple stops in a single journey without changing hotels or spending time on transfers between destinations.
The growth in tourist transportation is taking place against the backdrop of an overall increase in passenger traffic on inland waterways. According to Rosmorrechflot, from January to September 2026, this figure reached 12.1 million people. This indicates a rising demand not only for cruise holidays but also for other types of passenger river transport.
The dynamics of tourist routes significantly outpace the overall growth in transport. While the number of passengers on domestic waterways has risen by 9.6%, tourist routes have seen an increase of 60%.
In the first nine months of 2026, the number of tourist trips by foreigners to Russia increased by 3.45%. Moreover, over half of the international bookings at Russian hotels made via the Yandex Travel platform were attributed to visitors from China.
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