Russia's Tourism SMEs Experience Rapid Growth, Employment Reaches 296 Thousand

Strategic Insights -

In the first half of 2025, Russia's tourism sector saw a significant surge, with over 5,000 new small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) created, bringing the total number to almost 76.5 thousand. These SMEs generated revenue exceeding 1 trillion rubles by the end of 2024. Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov emphasized that government support and growing domestic tourism have provided opportunities for SME growth, while also creating new attractions for tourist flows.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of SMEs in the tourism sector has grown by 12% over three years, reaching nearly 76.5 thousand by the first half of 2025, with a revenue exceeding 1 trillion rubles by the end of 2024.
  • Employment in the tourism SME segment reached 296 thousand people, with about 45% of SMEs hiring workers, totaling 234 thousand people, and 62 thousand self-employed citizens providing services as guides or temporary accommodations.
  • Young entrepreneurs under 35 accounted for every fifth SME in the tourism sector, with the average age of entrepreneurs being 44 years old, a year higher than the average for SMEs across all industries.
  • The largest number of SMEs in tourism in 2025 opened in Moscow (537), Krasnodar Krai (465), St. Petersburg (282), Moscow Region (244), and the Altai Republic (225).
  • Cities with the highest number of SMEs in tourism included Moscow, Sochi, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Kazan, Gelendzhik, Perm, municipalities of the city of Moscow, Anapa, and Novosibirsk.

Statistics:

  • Total number of SMEs in the tourism sector by the first half of 2025: 76,500.
  • Total revenue of tourism SMEs by the end of 2024: 1 trillion rubles.
  • Employment in the tourism SME segment: 296 thousand people.
  • Number of SMEs hiring workers: 45% of total SMEs (234 thousand people).
  • Number of self-employed citizens providing services as guides or temporary accommodations: 62 thousand.
  • Average age of entrepreneurs in the tourism sector: 44 years old.
  • Young entrepreneurs under 35 accounted for every fifth SME (20%).
  • Total number of new SMEs created in the first half of 2025: over 5,000.

Sources:

  • Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Dmitry Vakhrukov.
  • SME Corporation, General Director Alexander Isaevich.
  • Ministry of Economic Development (Russia).