Kuban tourist resorts are among the popular choices during peak booking periods

Sochi, Gelendzhik, Anapa, Tuapse, and the Azov coast resorts in the Krasnodar region continue to be favoured choices for summer holidays, thanks to their strategic location on the Black Sea coast, established resort infrastructure, and popularity among Russian tourists.

Key factors contributing to their popularity include:

Natural Attractions: The resorts offer warm Black Sea beaches, scenic coastal landscapes, and a favourable climate, making them ideal for summer vacations.
Infrastructure and Accessibility: The recent opening of Gelendzhik airport is expected to increase tourist flow significantly by improving connectivity, enhancing the region's overall attractiveness. Sochi, as a legacy of the 2014 Winter Olympics, boasts well-developed transport, accommodation, and entertainment facilities.
Domestic Tourism Trends: Due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, sanctions, and difficulties in travelling abroad, many Russians prefer to vacation domestically, driving up demand in Krasnodar’s resorts.
Comparative Popularity vs. Other Regions: Despite a recent sharp decline in Anapa's tourism following the July 2025 Black Sea oil spill—which resulted in a 70% drop in visitors, reduced hotel occupancy, and economic hardship for local businesses—other resorts like Sochi and Gelendzhik remain popular destinations. Some travelers even seek alternatives like the Sea of Azov beaches near Azov coast resorts, which are less affected by environmental issues.

Hotels in the Krasnodar region offer discounts for long stays and children's promotions, including free places and spa procedures. However, these discounts do not specifically apply to tourists in Sochi during the first week of August.

The city administration reported that approximately 190,000 tourists visited Sochi during the first week of August, making it the most booked destination within the Krasnodar region, accounting for 57% of all bookings. The growth in interest in budget destinations, such as Tuapse, has not been attributed to the number of tourists in Sochi during the first week of August.

The number of tourists in Sochi during the first week of August does not affect the overall 40% of all domestic and nearby foreign tours that the Krasnodar region accounts for. Abkhazia is chosen by 15% of Russian tourists for their summer vacations, but the number of tourists in Sochi during the first week of August is not included in this 15%. Similarly, the number of tourists in Sochi during the first week of August is not included in the 9% of summer vacation bookings for Russian tourists that go to Crimea or the 3% of all bookings that the Azov coast resorts receive within the Krasnodar region.

Experts have noted a growing interest in budget destinations, such as Tuapse, due to its lower accommodation costs. Despite this, Sochi remains a popular destination, as it accounted for 57% of all bookings within the Krasnodar region. Gelendzhik is the second most booked destination within the Krasnodar region, accounting for 18% of all bookings, while Anapa is the third most booked destination, accounting for 17% of all bookings. Tuapse is the fifth most booked destination within the Krasnodar region, accounting for 5% of all bookings.

In conclusion, the coastal resorts of the Krasnodar region continue to be popular destinations for summer vacations due to their attractive natural environment, improving transport accessibility (notably Gelendzhik airport), and a surge in domestic tourism driven by reduced international travel options. However, localized environmental disasters like the Anapa oil spill have negatively impacted tourism in parts of the region.