With the approach of Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23, recent surveys have revealed insights about what Russian men wish to receive as gifts and what their significant others intend to buy. According to data published by RIA Novosti, many men expressed interest in receiving money, gadgets, clothing items, and household appliances. Interestingly, for some, the gesture of affection and warm embraces are already seen as enough of a gift.
Women, on their part, seem ready to meet some of their partners' wishes, with applications showing around 30% of Russian women purchasing clothing for their loved ones. Following clothing, electronic gadgets emerged as the second-most popular gift choice. On the lower end of the spectrum, gifts such as perfume, repair tools, car accessories, and socks are less favored. There's also mention of women planning to arrange romantic evenings for the men in their lives.
The report from RIA Novosti noted, “Women are least inclined to buy shoes, travel packages, household appliances, or just give cash.” Most gifts are being purchased through marketplaces, with fewer obtained from offline stores and online shops respectively. Notably, consumers aged 45 to 60 tend to spend the least on gifts for both February 23 and International Women’s Day on March 8, with budgets often below 2,000 rubles. For colleagues, women typically set aside no more than 1,000 rubles, and for their special men, up to 5,000 rubles.
Meanwhile, men are also beginning to think about gifts for March 8, with many planning to buy flowers, sweets, and gift certificates from large retailers.
Turning to leisure and tourism, reports indicate there is burgeoning interest among families with children for river cruises within Russia. According to operators, demand for summer river cruises during January and February saw increases ranging from 15% to 25% compared to the previous year.
“Typically, we see the most significant sales surges before New Year's holidays, as loyal customers strive to book their preferred cruises and cabins early. While we usually see a decline after New Year's, this year is different,” stated Alexey Rastegaev, head of the Russian Union of Travel Industry's (RUST) committee for river cruises. He elaborated, “Sales growth is largely fueled by young families, and we’ve noted new customers, which contrasts with past patterns.”
The average increase for early cruise bookings reportedly stands around 15%. River excursions of 7 to 10 days seem to draw the most interest, particularly among family units who prefer round trips for their convenience.
Exemplifying this trend, Andrey Mikhailovsky, general director of the cruise center Infoflot, noted how the industry has adapted to cater more effectively to families. “Operators have learned how to engage this audience, shifting focus from just cabins and dining options to include children’s clubs, quality entertainment, and even educational tours,” he explained.
Cruises are seen now as not bringing the fulfillment the sea promises, nevertheless, they offer unique opportunities for child-friendly vacations, which many parents greatly appreciate. Families are booking comfortable accommodations, and there are significant numbers of children on many cruise ships, with projections indicating 11% of total passengers were children.
“Last year, during some trips, the number of children aboard reached upwards of 120, almost 50% of the boat’s total capacity,” shared Ilya Sukhovolskiy, deputy general director of the cruise company Vodohod, who also emphasized the increasing participation of families with children. Projections show additional growth of children’s spots booked compared to last year.
Children’s spaces across various vessels are set to expand, with planned facilities readying for the 2025 season. Meanwhile, sales throughout January exhibited remarkable activity, with strengths noted across various cruise routes.
Finally, when it pertains to purchasing overseas property, Russian citizens are showing increased interest, especially for passive income opportunities. According to Izvestia, the highest demand among Russians has shifted to real estate markets such as the UAE, Thailand, and Oman. Interestingly, interest has surged for property purchases in Oman, reaching 2.5 times its prior level.
Data reveals 8.5% of Russians considering foreign real estate have shortlisted Oman as a prime destination, bringing it onto the top ten list of preferred property purchase locations for Russians. The UAE remains dominant with 40% interest from potential buyers. Demand has also rose for Thailand, where the figure climbed from 23% to 32% over the past year, surpassing Bali.
Experts acknowledge two contrasting trends dominating the overseas real estate market. While the average purchasing price is decreasing—with increased demand for properties under 300,000 euros—there's also heightened interest from investors eyeing properties priced between 500,000 euros and 2 million euros. This duality reflects the market’s subdivision between accessible housing and premium offerings.
Increasingly, buyers view properties abroad not as status symbols or quick-profit ventures but as long-term investments for income and travel potential. This shift points toward more sustainable motivations for Russian buyers interested in international real estate.