Bus Travel Between Russian Cities Gains Popularity

Russians travelled between cities by bus noticeably more often this summer. From June to August, demand for intercity bus trips rose 24.4 percent year on year.

Buses increased their share among popular travel methods by 4.8 percentage points. Shorter routes proved especially popular, with demand for journeys of up to eight hours climbing by roughly a third.

Interest grew markedly in southern regions. Bus trips to Krasnodar Krai rose 14.1 percent, while demand for flights to Sochi fell 43.9 percent over the year, with some tourists opting for ground transport. Changes in airport and rail operations also affected the trend.

Growth was also seen in other tourist destinations, including St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Karelia, Tatarstan, Moscow and the Moscow region.

Experts say buses have become a particularly convenient option for trips to small towns that are not always easy to reach by plane or train, helped by online booking and roadside infrastructure.

The average bus ticket cost 344 rubles this summer, up 17 percent over the year. Analysts note demand is growing mainly in the European part of Russia.