Egypt
Let's take, for example, Egypt - traditionally the most affordable option for a winter vacation. According to experts' forecasts, this winter it will become more expensive by about 30%. Moreover, in their words, it will be primarily cheap tours to Egypt that get more expensive - because Egypt itself is changing, as is the attitude of our compatriots toward this country.
As the gentlemen professionals say, a few years ago Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh were considered difficult destinations for tour operators, because they evoked among our citizens notions of low service, laziness of the locals, and a lack of quality products. Now, according to tourism businesspeople, everything has changed. This year's trend: affluent citizens have started going to Egypt, demand for five-star hotels is growing, and unusual rooms and business-class airline tickets have come into use. And although in certain circles going to "cheap" Egypt is considered not quite decent, in secret from their own, it turns out, representatives of that very circle are not averse to "resting inexpensively and with quality."
And so tour companies are now thinking about how to attract VIP clients, preparing special programs and extravagant entertainment. According to specialists, the trend for Egypt is this: individual programs will gradually replace mass ones. At the same time, Egypt remains a joy for the wallet: for $300-500 in Egypt you can expect "a quite comfortable week-long vacation without visa problems and with decent service." Of course, it would be strange if people selling tours to Egypt said, for example, that we face "nothing but discomfort with visa problems and terrible service." However, it makes sense to regard these prices as approximate prices for a week-long winter tour.
Emirates
It has also become fashionable to vacation in the United Arab Emirates, which just a few years ago attracted only representatives of the heroic tribe of shuttle traders. Demand for winter tours to the Emirates especially grew last year, when Western tourists stopped going there after the September events. That's when our fearless tourist flocked to the UAE - at reduced prices. And everything indicates that this winter the popularity of the UAE will grow.
But the bright Emirati reality also has dark sides. The main one is the global construction in Jumeirah, a resort district of Dubai, where all the best hotels and beaches are concentrated. Now it is more honest to promise the client not a "view of the desert" but a "view of the construction site," laments one of the heads of a tour company.
There will be few good places by the sea. The two surviving Jumeirah hotels have greatly raised their prices. You can, of course, also stay in the city, but you need to take into account that in Dubai you cannot stay in hotels below four stars. Cheap hotels are designed for shuttle traders and offer corresponding service. Well, a week-long tour to a four-star hotel was promised to us to sell on average for $450-470. And by how zealously the companies participating in the briefing swore not to dump prices, it became clear that significant dumping on tours to the Arab Emirates is expected. This especially applies to the low season in November - during the holy month of Ramadan.
For those who intend to go to the UAE, it will be useful to learn some subtleties related to this country. Most likely, a young single woman who bought a tour to a cheap hotel for three days will not be allowed into the UAE. She will be suspected of immodest intentions. It will be hard for Ivanov, Petrov, and citizens with other common surnames - the receiving side thinks that the same person keeps coming and sees a catch in that. The problem is usually solved, but for an additional fee.
However, with alcohol, they say, everything will be without problems in the UAE. Even vacationers in the emirate of Sharjah, where alcohol is strictly prohibited, cleverly cope with the problem by stocking up in neighboring loyal Ajman and pouring their purchases into cola bottles.
Southeast Asia
Another destination where our tourist will rush as soon as it gets colder is Southeast Asia. It is expected, for example, that this year the number of people wishing to visit Thailand will be about 20 percent more than last year. A week-long tour to Thailand can, if lucky, be bought for less than $500, you don't have to worry about a visa (it is obtained on arrival), and flying there will become much more convenient.
In general, the forecasts for Thailand this winter are as follows: on "high dates" (primarily the New Year holidays) tours will cost more than last season, but overall everything is heading toward cheaper prices.
By the way, tourism professionals said that interest in Thailand will gradually decline. They say everyone who wanted to go there has already been, and several times. And the future belongs to the less promoted in our country resorts of Southeast Asia - Bali, Malaysia, and Singapore.
As for winter Europe, here I have nothing to please the reader with - in connection with the transition to the euro, both the cost of tours and simply prices in the eurozone countries have risen by an average of 7-10%. But winter Europe with its popular destinations and approximate prices is, as they say, a separate topic. It is being prepared for publication.