Abkhazia again took first place among the most popular tourist destinations among Russians

 It is noted that Turkey ranks second after Abkhazia in this rating, and further - Finland, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. At the same time, tourist flow to Abkhazia increased from 1.54 to 1.67 million (plus 8%), to Turkey - 10 times, from 168 thousand to 1.63 million.

 Data of Rosstat was commented by the press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Irina Tyurina: "In January-June, the number of trips abroad increased by 30% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 17.1 million. This is a real breakthrough, the first in three years: in the first half of 2016, the indicator was lower by 13%, and in 2015 the decrease compared to the first half of 2014 was 24%. "

 Irina Tyurina reminded that since 2014 Rosstat has been counting tourist flows in accordance with the recommendations of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), according to which for the determination of the number of outbound tourists from the total number of trips of Russians abroad exclude those who left for permanent residence, for the purpose of employment, long-term training, military personnel, as well as crew / personnel of public modes of transport. A tourist is one who spends money in the country, which he earned outside the borders of this country.

 "It is obvious to specialists that the main part of the tourist flow to Abkhazia, Finland, Kazakhstan, China, Poland is visits to border regions with private purposes. Thus, judging by the leading directions, the main type of tourism for Russians were trips to neighboring countries - for shopping or for visiting relatives and friends, " - reports Tyurina.