Ebola Outbreak in Africa Poses No Risk to Top Destinations for Russian Travelers, Industry Says

Russian tourists can breathe easy: the latest Ebola outbreak in Africa is not affecting the most popular vacation spots among travelers from Russia, according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST).

On Monday, the World Health Organization reported more than 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths from the virus, centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But the RST says this region is far from the typical itineraries of Russian holidaymakers.

“The Ebola outbreak in Africa does not touch the destinations that are popular with Russian tourists,” an RST spokesperson told reporters in Moscow. “Reports of the fever in Central African countries have not yet had any impact on travel bookings.”

Dmitry Arutyunov, co-chair of the RST’s outbound tourism committee and head of tour operator Art-Tour, explained that the outbreak is concentrated in the DRC, a country few Russians visit. “If anyone goes there, it’s usually to see mountain gorillas,” he said. “But with the ongoing civil war, no tour operators are sending groups there.”

Arutyunov stressed that Russian travel companies are closely monitoring developments and following guidance from international health authorities. “For Russian tourists right now, there is no immediate danger. The WHO is taking all necessary steps to contain the outbreak and prevent it from spreading,” he added.

The RST emphasized that risks remain extremely low. Most mass-market travel routes from Russia avoid the affected areas entirely, and entry medical screenings, combined with WHO recommendations, allow authorities to track the situation in real time.