A significant but highly expected drop of 40% to 50% was recorded this year in the number of Russian tourists who decided spend their vacation abroad, due to the economic crisis and the ruble’s free fall, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), Maya Lomidze told Focus magazine.

According to Ms. Lomidze, the top destinations in Europe for Russian tourists in 2014 were Greece and Spain, attracting 7% of Russian travelers each.

Apart from the financial reasons that contributed to the sharp decrease of Russian tourists in Europe, there is also a political one, Ms. Lomidze noted, explaining that many Russians feel unwelcome in the West because of the latest “packages” of EU sanctions against their country.