Russian Business Travelers Flock to Neighboring Nations, New Data Shows

Russian companies are increasingly sending employees on shorter, regional trips. During the first half of 2026, 40% of all corporate travel abroad went to countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States and nearby neighbors. That’s according to booking service Ostrovok Komandirovki, which analyzed business travel patterns for the period.

Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan landed in the top ten most popular destinations. Armenia saw the biggest jump from a year earlier, with hotel bookings up 20%. Kazakhstan rose 7%, Uzbekistan 6% and Kyrgyzstan 3%. Beyond the CIS, China and Turkey also posted strong gains—15% and 7% respectively. The complete top ten also includes Italy, France and the United Arab Emirates.

The typical business trip lasted three days, with an average nightly hotel cost of 15,700 rubles. Most travelers came from trade, IT, consulting, manufacturing, medicine and engineering firms. The shift toward regional destinations suggests that while international business continues, proximity and convenience are becoming key factors for Russian companies.