Crimea has entered the top five most popular Russian regions for recreation in 2025, thereby confirming its status as one of the country's leading resort destinations. The steady growth in visitor flow is a key indicator of this success, reported the Head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov.
According to him, last year our region received 6.9 million tourists, which exceeded the 2024 figure by 15%. At the same time, 76% arrived by cars and buses: 61% via the Crimean Bridge, 15% through the historical regions. Another 24% of guests used trains. Moreover, 41% of those who came to us preferred the southern coast, 33% the western, 14% the eastern, and 12% chose Simferopol, Simferopol and Bakhchisaray districts. Most travelers choose the peninsula for health improvement, which is facilitated by the operation of 91 year-round sanatoriums.
Sergey Aksyonov also spoke about tourist flow during the New Year holidays. Thus, from December 27 to January 11, 286.6 thousand people vacationed in the republic. «The indicator exceeds the year before last by more than a third. The average occupancy of all hotels and sanatoriums operating during the holidays was over 60%. Leading resort complexes with developed infrastructure were loaded at 80% and more», the head of the Republic of Crimea is quoted by his press service.
During the New Year period, 53% of tourists reached here via the Crimean Bridge, almost 20% through the historical regions. Railway transport was chosen by 28% of the peninsula's guests.
Sergey Aksyonov also spoke about some results of the information campaign «New Year in Crimea Like at Home», which the Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of the Republic of Crimea conducted for the third time. The project united more than 300 festive events, 50 free excursions attended by over 1,000 people, and gastronomic quests in 30 restaurants with local cuisine. In Moscow, with the support of the mayor's office and the city department of mass media and advertising, 143 advertising surfaces were installed, demonstrating to Muscovites and guests of the capital the advantages of winter recreation in Crimea.
The Head of the Republic of Crimea also noted that the republic continues to develop infrastructure. In 2025, 39 accommodation facilities were modernized here, and 9 more were opened. In addition, new exhibition facilities appeared, including the Yalta Oceanarium, the Museum of Modern Military History in Evpatoria, the Special Military Operation Museum in the Simferopol district, and the Museum of Little Russia's Life in the Bakhchisaray district. Public spaces were updated and improved: the tourist center of the city of Saki, parks, beaches and embankments. Crimea continues to develop new tourist routes, working on creating the «Great Crimean Trail» active tourism project, 10 stages of which have already been improved.
«The achieved results create a solid foundation for further development. The coming year 2026, declared the Year of Hospitality in the republic, will open new perspectives for Crimean tourism», Sergey Aksyonov is confident.
