Taras Kobishchanov, Vice President of the Russian Tour Operators Association (ATOR) and CEO of Russian Express Holding, shared his 2026 predictions for the most popular overseas destinations for Russians.

According to Kobishchanov, Turkey will maintain its lead by a wide margin. He predicts that the United Arab Emirates will take second place in 2026. Egypt, which is breathing down the UAE's neck and growing rapidly, will take third place.

According to the ATOR vice president, the most interesting developments are happening on the “eastern front.” Vietnam is rapidly entering the market and taking market share from Thailand. Although Thailand currently surpasses Vietnam in terms of volume, Vietnam's growth rate is impressive.

China is also gaining increasing interest as a beach and tourism destination. Visa exemptions for Russians and a large flight program are increasing interest in China.

According to Taras Kobishchanov's predictions, the battle for fourth place in the TOP-5 in 2026 will be between China and Thailand. Vietnam, which has become a destination that can be visited throughout the year, will take fifth place.