Russian tourism to EU remains unhindered despite sanctions push

Despite new EU sanctions targeting Russia, Russian tourists are expected to continue visiting the bloc, diplomats have indicated in a conversation with EU observer.

Last year, 541,000 Russians travelled to the EU, compared with 517,000 in 2023, and over four million annually before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Several countries, including the Nordic states, the Baltics, the Czech Republic, and Poland, had called for tighter restrictions on Russian visitors, citing security concerns and supporting a cultural boycott. However, the European Commission’s draft proposal for the 19th round of sanctions primarily targets EU nationals travelling to Russia.

The proposal specifies: “It shall be prohibited to provide services directly related to tourism activities in Russia,” aiming to reduce revenue flowing to Moscow and deter non-essential travel to the country.

The EU is also planning to publish a new strategy on Russian tourism to the EU by the end of the year, though diplomats describe it as likely a softer, non-binding framework compared to the sanctions packages. EU ambassadors in Brussels are set to discuss the 19th round of measures on Friday.

Diplomats say opinions are divided, with some EU countries opposed to cultural restrictions and others seeing the measures as too weak. France, Italy, and Spain — top destinations for Russian visitors — declined to comment on potential travel restrictions.

Former NATO official Jamie Shea suggested the EU could impose a progressive tourist tax on wealthy Russians, with exemptions for students and those under 21. He added that few Russian visitors seek asylum in the EU, highlighting the primarily leisure-focused nature of their travel. In 2022, 13,345 Russians applied for EU asylum, followed by 18,895 in 2023 and over 10,000 last year.

Security concerns over Russian visitors stem from escalating sabotage and hybrid attacks targeting EU infrastructure. Russia has interfered with underwater systems, civilian aviation, and military airspace. On September 24, Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles’ plane experienced a reported GPS disruption en route to Lithuania. Russian warplanes also violated Estonian airspace last Friday, and drones breached airspace in Denmark, Poland, and Romania.

Shea characterised these actions as testing NATO’s response, recalling similar incidents in the past. The EU Commission underscored the bloc’s mutual defence principle, stating, “An attack on one state is an attack on us all,” referencing last week’s drone incursions into Poland.

In addition to tourism measures, the 19th sanctions package targets the remaining imports of Russian fossil fuels. A liquid gas import ban is set to begin on January 1, 2027, pending approval from all 27 EU states, including Hungary and Slovakia. Future punitive tariffs on Russian oil purchases are also planned, allowing other EU members to outvote dissenting states.

By Tamilla Hasanova