MOSCOW: Russians reduced their spending while abroad by 30 percent last year as economic recession forces them to be more careful with money, the Meduza news website reported Tuesday, citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Russians spent a total of $35 billion abroad last year, compared to $50 billion in 2014, according to UNWTO. In 2013, the amount spent by Russian travelers abroad totaled $56 billion.
In 2015, Russia was ranked sixth in terms of spending during international trips, UNWTO said. The most money — $292 billion — was spent by Chinese travelers. They increased their expenses abroad by a quarter in 2015, year-on-year.
While some Russians cut back on their spending abroad, others have to abstain from making international trips at all, as the weakening of the ruble has made them less affordable.
Last year, Russian outbound tourism dropped by 31.3 percent, the sharpest drop since 1998, according to the Russian Tourism Industry Union.
