Working on Vacation: How Russian Habits Shape Summer Tourism

Working on Vacation: Numbers That Surprise

Recent joint research by hh.ru and the online booking service Ostrovok, carried out in mid‑May, covered more than three thousand respondents. It turned out that one in five working Russians does not switch off even on official vacation days. Another quarter of employees sometimes check email and answer requests, although formally they are on leave. Only more than half said they really “switch off” and devote the time to rest.

Who Has Already Rested and Who Is Still Delaying

By early June, more than half of those surveyed still hadn’t taken a single vacation day this year. Those who had already used some days amounted to about a third, and those who had fully rested – just five percent. The gap between sectors is noticeable: in agriculture already sixteen percent have taken their full vacation, while in media, arts and entertainment sixty‑five percent are still waiting for their break.

Why Vacation Turns Into a Workday

The main reasons cited by participants relate to changed working conditions. After the pandemic many switched to remote work, and the line between office and home blurred. A smartphone with corporate email in the pocket turns any downtime into potential work time. Moreover, the Russian labour market stays overheated: staff shortages create pressure that is hard to “switch off”, even when you’re already on the beach.

What This Means for the Tourism Industry

For tour operators and hoteliers these figures are a signal of higher demand in the summer period. Most of those who haven’t rested yet plan to take vacation in July‑August. At the same time two opposite formats are popular:

• Full disconnect – week‑long tours where guests want to leave work completely behind.
• Work‑cations – short weekend trips, hotels with reliable Wi‑Fi and convenient logistics, allowing you to answer emails while changing scenery.

How to Plan a Summer Vacation When Work Won’t Let Go

1. Define the goal. If you need a real recharge, pick places where connectivity is limited. If you prefer to mix work and leisure, look for hotels with good internet and coworking zones.
2. Trim the trip. According to the study, Russians more often choose short weekend or holiday‑day trips. That lets you switch environment quickly without a long absence.
3. Set boundaries. Agree with your manager in advance on “black hours” when you won’t be reachable. That helps cut down the number of “check‑ins” during vacation.
4. Prepare the gear. Take only the devices you need, mute corporate app notifications and put the phone in “do not disturb” mode.
5. Pick convenient routes. Short journeys without complex transfers give you more time to relax and less time on the road.

Summer Season: When to Expect a Tourist Surge

According to Irina Kozlova, managing director of Ostrovok, almost half of all trips planned for the year that last a week fall into June‑August. That means demand will be high in those months both for traditional beach resorts and for “work‑oriented” retreats with solid infrastructure.

Takeaways for Travelers

• If you want a full disconnect, plan longer trips to regions where internet is limited.
• If work will still be nearby, look for hotels with fast Wi‑Fi and coworking spaces.
• Don’t postpone vacation until the last minute: by June more than half of Russians still haven’t taken a single day off.
• Mind sector differences: in agriculture vacation is already common, in the media sector – not.

Summer is already on the doorstep, and given that many keep working even on vacation, flexibility and clear planning will become your best allies. Choose the format that fits you, and enjoy what you do best – relax, even if the laptop occasionally reminds you of its presence.

Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.