Can’t Log Off: Why Russian Tourists in Turkey Keep Working on Vacation
Russian travelers heading to Turkey’s Mediterranean beaches this summer aren’t just packing sunscreen and swimsuits—they’re also bringing their laptops and work worries. According to a new study from Turkish HR platform Kolay İK, a staggering 85% of Russian employees stay tethered to their jobs before, during, or even mentally after their holiday. Only 15% manage to truly switch off. Antalya-based travel agent Doğan Güneş told RIA Novosti that modern technology makes it easy to stay connected, but that convenience is eating away at the very purpose of a getaway: real rest.
The study breaks down the numbers: 42% of workers fear the pileup of tasks waiting for them when they return, 23% admit to checking work emails while on vacation, and another 20% feel stressed about finishing projects before they leave. That means most Russian tourists are arriving in Turkey with one eye on their phone and the other on the sea. Güneş noted that many clients confess they mentally rehearse their return to the office, fretting about deadlines even as they lounge by the pool. “They don’t fully disconnect,” he said. “And that robs them of the rest they came for.”
Remote work and digital tools have blurred the line between office and holiday, and Turkey—long a top summer destination for Russians—is seeing the consequences firsthand. Güneş pointed out that the ability to hop on a Zoom call or answer a Slack message from a beach chair sounds like a perk, but it often backfires. Instead of recharging, travelers end up stressed and distracted. For those who do manage to unplug completely, the payoff is huge: they return truly refreshed. But for the majority, the vacation becomes just a change of scenery—with the same old workload.
Turkey remains a favorite escape for Russians seeking sun and sea, especially during the peak summer months. Yet as more tourists bring their jobs along, travel professionals are urging them to set boundaries. Leave the laptop in the hotel safe, silence the notifications, and remember why you came. Because a holiday isn’t really a holiday if you’re still clocking in.