I’m a bit late to the discussion, but work has been crazy (customer care in retail over Christmas and Boxing Day sales) … anyhow. I wanted to add my two pence regarding tourism / travel to Russia.
In my previous job role I travelled to Russia, in particular to Moscow and St Petersburg. I think in total I’ve been there 7-8 times between 2015 and 2020. Previously I’d been there in 2009 and before then in 2000.
what I noticed first in 2009 and to a much greater degree in 2015 onwards, was a gradual retreat of the society back into Cold War. Putin was playing a slow game. On one hand, Moscow and St Petersburg looked like any modern city, with all the modern commodities including speedy Wi-Fi in the underground (metro), Uber, incredible food/ restaurants, you name it.
But at the same time there was a feeling that nothing really changed since my Soviet childhood in the 80’s.
They were still singing the same old songs that were popular in the 80’s by the same performers who looked the same. There was still an overwhelming presence of communism/ WW2 Victory glorification, obsession with Russia being the saviour of Europe. Lenin’s mummy still ever present in his mausoleum in Red Square. People queuing to see him.
i also noticed how much Moscow especially changed ethnically. There were a lot of people from the former Asian republics, there were mosques. A lot of these were tourists but a lot were people from these ex soviet republics who came for work and working in low paid jobs like food delivery etc.
in terms of tourism, as I mentioned many were ex soviet republics visitors but also there were loads of Chinese tourists travelling in big groups.
i expect that’s why tourism in Russia has not really suffered as much during these recent sanctions- because a lot of it was domestic even before the war.
also what I noticed is how much police (militia) there were everywhere. No disorders, no anti social behaviour, no beggars, no homeless people, no drunks.
near Kremlin there was never mobile phone signal. Local taxi drivers told me it was deliberate.
Apologies for the information dump. I am not sure where I’m going with it all. Just some thoughts and observations I’ve had in my head.