Over 6 mln people holiday in Crimea so far in 2025 - governor

MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax) - More than 6 million people have visited resorts in Crimea since the start of 2025, up 16% on last year, regional governor Sergei Aksyonov said on Wednesday.

"The number of visitors in Crimea has exceeded 6 million since the start of the year, 16% higher than the level in the same period in 2024. In September, there were 745,000 holidaymakers in Crimea, 16% more than last year," Aksyonov said on Telegram.

Most (62%) came by car and bus using the Crimean Bridge, 23% by train, and 15% reached the peninsula "through the historical regions," he said.

The biggest number of tourists - 40.4% of the total - stayed on the southern coast. One-third preferred the western coast, 15.6% the eastern one, and 11.4% stayed in the Simferopol and Bakhchisarai districts. The hotel occupancy rate in September was at 60%, up 7.4 % on 2024.

"The holiday season on our peninsula continues. Ahead is the 'convalescence season' when Crimea's health-resort services and its medicinal natural factors are most effective," Aksyonov said.

According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, sales of Crimean resorts this summer grew at a record pace, with 30%-40% more bookings made with tour operators than last summer, despite logistics and safety issues. Hotel bookings on online platforms were up 90% this summer. The increase is connected to the situation in Anapa, resort development and price appeal, experts said.