Demand for the velvet season in Anapa has increased against the backdrop of the opening of beaches.

In Anapa, a high level of demand for vacation during the velvet season is expected; overall, Anapa has become a driver of demand for vacations in Kuban this summer, tour operators noted.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Anapa's beaches, after being replenished with new sand, have turned into a mix of stones and clay; officials' reports do not correspond to reality, Telegram users pointed out. According to commentators, significant costs were required to replenish Anapa's beaches after the oil spill, but the first storms washed away the sand, and what remained on the shore has compacted. Another problem for Anapa's beaches after the storm has been the large amount of seaweed. A total of 109 Anapa beaches have already received permission to operate from Rospotrebnadzor, while three more are undergoing examination.

A member of the board of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, the general director of the "Dolphin" company Sergey Romashkin expects a growth in tourist flow by at least 50% in 2026 compared to the previous year.

"This is the only resort city on the Black Sea that demonstrates positive dynamics. The summer started with a 100% increase in June. The growth in August will be about 50% compared to last year. The velvet season, according to our forecast, will also be good. Overall, Anapa will add at least 50% to the figures of 2025 this year," RST quoted him as saying.

However, even such dynamics will not allow Anapa to return to the results of the prosperous 2024, when the city welcomed 5.5 million guests. "We expect something in between 2024 and the disastrous 2025. The figure of 3.7-4 million tourists by the end of 2026 looks quite realistic," Romashkin explained.

According to him, prices in Anapa have increased, but not significantly. "Since the beginning of summer, there has been a 5-6% increase, but now nothing remains of it. In some places, there is even a slight decrease in prices – by 2-3%. In my memory, this is happening for the first time in history. Tourists have a rare opportunity to vacation at last year's prices," he noted.

In the company "Alean", demand for Anapa this summer has increased by 17% compared to last year.

"The opening of the swimming season and affordable prices positively influenced demand, while the complicated information background in the Russian south and logistical difficulties had a negative impact," said the deputy general director of the tour operator Oksana Bulakh.

According to her, discounts of 10-15% and higher, which were in effect at many accommodation facilities, including for long stays, stimulated interest in the resort. Hotels also offered free accommodation for children up to 15 years old on an extra bed.

"Hotels operating on an all-inclusive basis are the most popular, but economy segment hotels and guest houses that resumed operations this year also attracted their guests," the expert noted.

According to "Alean", in Gelendzhik, after the drone attack and the temporary closure of beaches on August 12, the number of cancellations of booked tours sharply increased. During the day, it exceeded standard figures by 10%.

"Even September tours were canceled, and several tourists decided to cut their vacation short. However, cancellations were by no means massive. New requests continue to come in for arrivals this week and extending up to the New Year holidays," emphasized Oksana Bulakh.

In Anapa, bookings have doubled, while in Krasnodar, they have increased by a third, noted the managing director of the online hotel and apartment booking service "Ostrovok" Irina Kozlova. "Interest in the region has been significantly influenced by the launch of airports and the opening of beaches that were inaccessible for swimming last year. The trend for short trips, which gained particular popularity this summer, continues during the velvet season," BFM quoted her as saying.

In the velvet season of 2026, the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory remain among the leaders in popularity among Russian travelers. The greatest growth among southern railway destinations is shown by routes from Moscow to Anapa and Sochi, analysts from the Ozon Travel service inform.

According to the study, the volume of train ticket bookings from the capital to Anapa for September and October has increased 2.4 times compared to the same period last year. The number of those wishing to travel by train to Sochi has increased 2.2 times. At the same time, there is a high demand for the local hotel stock: the number of early hotel bookings in the Krasnodar Territory and Sochi has risen 1.6 times, writes RIA "Novosti".

The resort season in Anapa opened against a sharp contrast in the condition of the coastline. Some beaches are open and recognized as safe, while other areas are closed due to erosion, unstable soil, and environmental risks. Information about which beaches are ready for visitors and which pose a danger is provided in the "Caucasian Knot" reference "Anapa Beaches: Open and Dangerous Zones".

Despite the problems with sand and seaweed on the beaches, Anapa in July showed the most significant increase in tourists in the Krasnodar Territory. Hotels are keeping prices in Anapa at last year's level and even holding sales, the hotelier emphasized.

On December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. As a result, a crew member of one of the tankers died. In addition, there was an oil spill, which led to catastrophic environmental consequences, according to the "Caucasian Knot" reference "Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait". Materials on the consequences of the oil spill have been collected by the "Caucasian Knot" on the page "Ecological Disaster in Kuban".