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Interest in travel across Russia has surged once again: in 2024 alone, online spendings on flights, hotels, and tours reached $21.7 billion — an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year. More and more users are turning to social media for trip inspiration: browsing visual collections, reading personal reviews, and saving travel routes. Instagram remains one of the top sources of inspiration despite restrictions, as over 27 million people still use the platform, accounting for 20.5% of the online population. The core audience is women aged 25 to 44 — they're the ones making decisions about where to go, where to stay, and what to buy along the way.
Travel influencers continue to show strong engagement and remain one of the most effective ways to reach Russian audiences — especially for international brands that aim to:
Instagram is still a key platform for travelers and opinion leaders. Even though access now requires a VPN, the audience here remains loyal and willing to spend. Influencers use Instagram as a showcase for their visual content — posting their best photos, Reels, and branded campaigns for hotels and destinations. At the same time, many have adapted to the changing landscape by launching Telegram channels and working through YouTube, expanding their reach and tailoring content for different segments.
Video continues to be the dominant format. Short clips, Stories, and livestreams that explore destinations create a sense of immersion. Followers don’t just watch — they feel involved. That emotional connection builds trust and makes storytelling a powerful tool for influence. This kind of content helps brands reach audiences not through hard selling, but by evoking emotions and shared experiences — a strategy more and more travel companies are choosing.
However, things are set to shift in September 2025. In March, the State Duma passed amendments to the law that ban all advertising on foreign platforms labeled ‘undesirable’ or ‘extremist’ — including Instagram and Facebook. The new rules come into effect on September 1, 2025. From that date on, any kind of advertising on Instagram, including native influencer content, promo codes, brand mentions, or links, will officially be considered a legal violation.
The new legal wording affects all forms of paid advertising — from influencer integrations and product reviews to Stories that mention brands, promo codes, links, visual elements, or native ad campaigns. Beginning September 1, this type of content will be considered a legal violation and may lead to fines — both for influencers and the brands they work with. This applies to both Russian and international companies if their ads are aimed at a Russian audience.
It’s important to note that simply maintaining a presence on Instagram is still allowed. Brand and influencer accounts can continue to exist, but they will be treated strictly as image-building showcases, without the option to post new promotional content. To stay on the safe side, it’s recommended to delete or hide existing promotional posts before the law comes into effect, in order to avoid possible scrutiny from regulatory bodies like FAS (Federal Antimonopoly Service) or Roskomnadzor.
In short, Instagram can still be used for maintaining a visual presence, but not for active advertising. All promotional efforts will need to be shifted to legally permitted platforms: Telegram, YouTube, VKontakte.
That said, until September 1, 2025, travel KOLs remain highly active on Instagram — sharing itineraries, hotel reviews, testing travel services, and posting native ad content. Many are already preparing for the shift by building up their Telegram channels, launching YouTube blogs, and boosting their presence on VK and Yandex.Dzen.
In the next section, we’ve highlighted a group of travel influencers who are still creating content for Russian audiences on Instagram while also exploring alternative platforms. We’ve included examples of their brand partnerships to show how companies are currently collaborating with them.
Top Russian-speaking travel bloggers: from celebrities to microbloggers
Top-tier influencers with million audiences still dominate the rankings, but advertisers are increasingly turning their attention to micro- and nano-influencers — those with up to 500,000 followers. Their reach may be smaller, but their communities tend to be more engaged and more trusting. That makes them a highly effective promotion channel, especially for CPA-based campaigns where payment is tied to specific user actions.
Here's our ranking of the top travel content creators on Instagram. We compiled it based on the availability of travel content published by the authors.
Rank | Instagram Account | Subscribers |
---|---|---|
1 | @rudkovskayaofficial | 6 млн |
2 | @katyagorod | 3,5 млн |
3 | @lenaperminova | 2,7 млн |
4 | @kondrashov | 2,5 млн |
5 | @tretyakovaelen | 2 млн |
5 | @im_ksun | 2 млн |
7 | @irina_velour | 1,9 млн |
8 | @zhanna_badoeva | 1,8 млн |
9 | @irina_cerutti | 1,3 млн |
10 | @_lara_lara7 | 1,2 млн |
11 | @tanyosolovey | 963 тыс. |
12 | @grinulya | 457 тыс. |
13 | @elivosk | 423 тыс. |
14 | @svoimxodom | 411 тыс. |
15 | @natali_alanya | 137 тыс. |
16 | @alena_travelholic | 103 тыс. |
17 | @ya_diyaa | 83,8 тыс. |
18 | @dasha_pilotessa | 40,8 тыс. |
Let’s take a look at the key areas travel influencers are focusing on and how they’re using their main and backup platforms like Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, and VKontakte to promote brands, services, and travel routes.
We’ve gathered examples of those KOLs who already have an established audience and a track record of active brand collaborations to show how partnerships can be adapted to the evolving landscape.
The first place is taken by the famous Russian TV presenter, producer, and blogger Yana Rudkovskaya with 6 million followers on her account. Yana gained fame in the music industry, particularly as a producer of the renowned Russian performer, Eurovision winner Dima Bilan. Yana is also known for her lavish travels, mostly to the Maldives. Recently, the blogger has discovered a new destination: the Arab Emirates. On Instagram, Yana posts ads about hotels and gives her honest opinion of the best ones.
Yana Rudkovskaya's promotional post about the Cheval Blanc St-Tropez hotel
Yana Rudkovskaya runs a Dove of the World Yana Rudkovskaya Telegram channel, which has 71,000 subscribers. She regularly shares personal reflections and day-to-day observations, occasionally mentioning brands — all in a casual, intimate tone that blends naturally with her content. The channel's audience is highly responsive, making it a great space for promoting travel-related products in a native, unobtrusive way, without running into formal restrictions.
Elena Perminova, a model and an influencer, actively shares photos from her luxury travels in the Arab Emirates and Africa, especially highlighting the best hotels.
Elena also runs a Telegram channel with 54,000 subscribers. There, she shares fashion and travel looks, along with announcements, special offers, and promotional content — all presented in a native format, without overt advertising.
The channel stands out for its strong visual aesthetic, while the audience is loyal and detail-oriented. Elena is a recognizable figure in the premium segment and consistently maintains high interest in her content.
Lena Perminova's promotional post about Hotel Soneva
Katya is the Best Travel Blogger 2023. She is an expert on luxury hotels, and her content reflects that. Popular destinations are The Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Katya Gorod's promotional post about yacht rentals in Dubai
Katya runs a Telegram channel with 240,000 subscribers, focusing on lifestyle and travel content. Her posts, from curated selections to hotel and service reviews, are presented in a native, seamless way, without direct advertising cues. The channel is visually polished and inspiring, making it an ideal platform for promotions and special projects.
Elena is a renowned Russian travel influencer. She loves luxury travel and provides her subscribers with unique reviews of luxury hotels, exclusive travel itineraries, and premium services. Her top picks are Turkey, the Philippines, Thailand, the Maldives, Bangkok, and Dubai. The blogger creates native advertising that perfectly aligns with her content and commands the attention of her audience.
Promotional post by Elena Tretyakova about Rixos Premium Belek Hotel
Elena Tretyakova is one of the most prominent travel influencers in the luxury segment. She has already shifted her activity to approved platforms and continues to engage her audience with confidence. Her Telegram channel, with 247,000 subscribers, has become her main hub featuring curated travel content and partner collaborations, all delivered with a soft, native touch and without direct advertising. On VKontakte, with 140,000 followers, she focuses on visual integrations, storytelling, and posts in a familiar content style.
Both platforms are actively in use and fully prepared for brand promotion after September 1 — in line with all restrictions and the new regulatory landscape.
Irina was born in Crimea and moved to Zurich in the early 2000s. She calls herself a travel journalist. Her account features photos from Monaco, Madrid, Turkey, Paris, and the Arab Emirates. The author works with many brands.
Promotional post by Irina Cerutti about Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul
She lives in Zurich and is not a Russian resident. However, both her regular and sponsored posts target a Russian audience, which means they still fall under the scope of the advertising ban on foreign platforms. Legally, the restrictions apply to any content directed at users in Russia, regardless of where the influencer lives.
Let’s take a look at influencers who actively collaborate with hotels and travel service providers.
Investor and entrepreneur Alexander is a travel blogger with a huge following. He also runs his own YouTube channel, where he has over 1.5 million subscribers. He is known for his exciting videos about traveling around the world and detailed reports about the places he has visited. He travels all over Russia, Africa, and Asia.
Advertising integration of a cruise company from Saudi Arabia in Alexander Kondrashov's account
As alternative platforms he actively uses YouTube for travel-focused video content and Telegram for announcements, recommendations, and direct engagement with his audience. His YouTube channel has 1.73 million subscribers, while his Telegram channel counts 49,000.
Alexander Kondrashov is one of the most seasoned Russian-speaking travel content creators. After September 1, all brand integrations can be smoothly transitioned to YouTube and Telegram without any legal risk.
Ksenia's account is filled with bright and atmospheric photos from different parts of the world, including Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Morocco. Ksenia also actively cooperates with various brands, providing her followers with honest and detailed reviews of travel services and products.
Promotional post by Ksenia Prokhorova about LE CASABLANCA HOTEL
The influencer is actively growing her Telegram channel, which now has 319,000 subscribers and is a full-fledged alternative to Instagram. She shares photos, travel guides, personal recommendations, and special offers. On VKontakte, where she has 69,000 followers, she reposts visual content, tells stories, and engages in active conversations in comments.
Ksenia is one of the most dynamic and adaptable travel influencers. She quickly adjusted to the new landscape, shifting her main activity to legal and accessible platforms, all while maintaining strong audience engagement and interest.
Irina, co-founder of Mosgolfshop.ru and TV presenter. Her popular destinations include the Maldives, South Korea, Cuba, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Dubai, and the Kola Peninsula.
Advertising post by Irina Belousova about Club Med Maldives hotel
The influencer actively runs a Telegram channel with 226,000 subscribers and it's her primary platform, where she shares travel notes, personal selections, visual reviews, and announcements of special offers. On VKontakte, she has 84,000 followers in a lively group featuring photo albums, travel diaries, and stories from her trips. Her audience is highly engaged — they comment, discuss, and interact with the content.
Irina has built a strong multi-platform presence: Telegram and VKontakte complement each other and function as a cohesive media space. She’s open to collaborations with both major travel brands and niche services.
Zhanna Badoeva, TV presenter and director, travels around the world for the TV show “The Lives of Others” and publishes native advertising integrations for services, tour operators, and professional realtors in various countries.
Zhanna Badoeva's promotional post about online hotel and apartment booking service
Alternative platforms: Zhanna shares personal notes and announcements on her Telegram channel, which has 54,000 subscribers. However, her main media asset is her YouTube channel, which features the show “The Lives of Others” with 647,000 subscribers.
Zhanna Badoeva’s format is well-suited for deep, native integrations, especially within video content. Her YouTube channel allows her to naturally weave travel brands into authentic stories and journeys, making every mention feel relevant and organic.
Larisa is a finalist for Mrs. Universe-2023 and the winner of the People of the Future award for the best travel blog. She's visited some of the world's most popular destinations, including Sri Lanka, Greece, Bali, the Maldives, and Turkey.
Promotional post by Larisa Filonova about a luxury resort with access to the sea, SPA, restaurants, swimming pools
So far, there is no information about her Telegram or YouTube accounts.
Tanya Solovey shares her impressions from traveling to Seychelles, Tbilisi, and Phuket in her account. She reviews hotels in interesting ways that naturally promote them.
Tanya Soloway's promotional post about the five-star resort in the Maldives, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Her account is full of bright and picturesque photos from different parts of the world, which convey the beauty and atmosphere of traveling. Integration formats are photos and storis advertising resorts, personal picks and mini-guides.
As alternative platforms, Tatyana actively uses Telegram and VKontakte. Her Telegram channel is now her main space with 128,000 subscribers. It features regular travel reviews, curated selections, and timely offers. On VKontakte, she has 108,000 followers, with a dynamic feed filled with photos, posts, and lively discussions in the comments.
Tanya has successfully transitioned her activity to these platforms and is well-suited for native placements, including special guides, curated picks, and personalized recommendations.
Sasha has visited 60 countries and she is an ambassador for Aviasales. Some of the blogger's favorite destinations include Sri Lanka, Montenegro, Mexico, the Maldives, Bali, Dubai, Rome, Prague, Paris, Barcelona, Warsaw, and a cruise from Argentina through the Falkland Islands to Antarctica. Influencer's popular destinations include Sri Lanka, Montenegro, Mexico, Maldives, Bali, Dubai, Rome, Prague, Paris, Barcelona, Warsaw, including a cruise from Argentina through the Falkland Islands to Antarctica.
As an alternative platform, Sasha is growing her Telegram channel, which currently has 38,000 subscribers. She shares travel tips, helpful links, and announcements — everything that independent travelers might find useful.
The format allows her to post recommendations and partner-curated content outside of Instagram, and her engaged audience trusts her expertise and actively joins the conversation.
Iliya Voskresensky is a Russian travel influencer, photographer, and videographer known for his visually rich content on Instagram and YouTube. His work focuses on natural landscapes, local cultures, and everyday life around the world.
His feed features stunning photo and video materials from Morocco, Iceland, Norway, Indonesia, Georgia, Italy, Kenya, the UAE, Iran, Peru, Chile, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, and the Faroe Islands. Iliya emphasizes nature, culture, and the atmosphere of each destination, collaborating with travel brands, tour operators, local guides, and hotels, especially in regions known for wildlife and remote experiences.
As a backup platform, Iliya has focused on YouTube, where he has 387,000 subscribers who actively engage with his travel episodes. The format is well-suited for legal brand integrations allowing for natural placement in reviews, recommendations, and original travel stories.
He’s a great match for brands related to nature tourism, expeditions, unconventional routes, and outdoor gear.
Natalia is a tour guide and realtor based in Turkey. In her account, she talks about life in Turkey, sharing her impressions of the local culture, sights, and lifestyle. The posts often include useful tips for tourists, making her account a great source of information for anyone planning a trip to this country.
Natalia also promotes local businesses, such as restaurants, and services like Yandex Travel.
Natalia also runs a Telegram channel, which currently has a smaller audience of 5,000 subscribers. As a niche travel guide focused on Turkey, she’s well-suited for targeted integrations, such as tours, apartment rentals, local services, cafes, and regional events. Her content is highly native in format, and her audience values her expertise, engaging actively through comments.
Not all trips have to be expensive. In this section, we will tell you about influencers and content creators who specialize in budget travel and discounts.
Svoim Khodom is a popular Russian travel blog run by husband and wife Vitalik and Lisa. The influencers talk about how to travel cheaply, where to find the best discounts, and budget routes to different countries around the world.
On their page, you can find video reports, photo galleries, personal stories, and impressions of the places they have visited.
They often visit countries in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos. They explore the beaches, tropical forests, local villages, and cultural attractions of these countries.
Vitaly and Lisa also actively collaborate with various brands and travel companies, providing honest and detailed reviews of the services and products they use on their travels.
Promotional post about the booking service in the Yandex Travel app
Vitalik and Liza are a solid travel brand with a loyal and highly engaged audience. On Telegram, where they have 104,000 subscribers, they share curated selections, travel hacks, useful links, and engage directly with their followers. Their main platform is YouTube, with 695,000 viewers regularly tuning in for episodes featuring native integrations and sponsored segments. On VKontakte, they have 197,000 followers in an active community where posts spark lively discussions.
Their format is perfectly suited for CPA placements, promo guides, and video case studies, all of which can be legally implemented across accessible platforms.
Alena is an experienced traveler who has opened her own travel club for her followers. In the club, she shares information on how to prepare for a trip, calculate a budget, which apps to download, and how to buy cheap airline tickets. Some of the club's content is published for free, while some (guides) are sold separately, such as a guide to Vietnam. She has visited Turkey, India, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Bangkok, France, and Italy.
Alena's post on how to see Africa at low budget
Alena builds trust through a practical approach and firsthand experience. She’s a strong fit for collaborations involving app recommendations, travel services, and content related to flights and rail travel.
At the time of writing, her activity is focused solely on Instagram, with no alternative platforms currently in use.
Dija's blog focuses on one topic only: China. Enamored with this country, she shares everything about the local culture, shops, and lifestyle of the Chinese people. The influencer advises her followers on where to dine on a budget and sample delicious Chinese tea.
It is well-suited for brands in gastronomy, tourism, local products, and lifestyle segments.
Alternative platforms: Telegram, with 24,000 subscribers, is Dia’s primary channel, where she regularly shares travel discoveries, food-focused routes, and personal recommendations. Her YouTube channel, with 14.7K subscribers, complements this by featuring vertical Shorts — quick local reviews and practical insights.
Telegram remains the core of her presence, offering a focused space for curated content, while YouTube adds visual depth through short-form video storytelling.
Micro-influencers Dasha and Alexander discuss budget travel to Turkey, India, Argentina, Australia, Cyprus, and the Maldives. The couple also successfully runs their YouTube channel, which has 419,000 subscribers.
Promotional post about Wild Maldives travel company
Dasha and Alexander are a couple focused on independent travelers, building trust through personal experience and relatable storytelling. Their YouTube channel has 454,000 subscribers and serves as a strong platform for sharing real-life travel stories and practical insights. The format is ideal for integrating CPA placements and native collaborations with travel brands — all in a seamless, natural way that avoids ad overload and keeps the content authentic.
Russian audiences continue to actively engage with travel content. Despite restrictions, interest in new destinations, hotels, routes, and experiences remains strong. In this environment, unique Instagram formats that go beyond showcasing and actually create engagement perform especially well. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Short vertical videos are among the most powerful tools in travel promotion. The most effective ones are under 30 seconds and focus on capturing atmosphere — a panoramic pool, the view from a window, breakfast on a terrace, or the moment an influencer steps into a hotel room. Paired with music and concise captions highlighting the benefits, these clips instantly spark the viewer’s desire to experience it for themselves.
A promotional post of the hotel in the account of Katya Gorod
High-quality photos with a clear message still deliver strong results, especially when the influencer highlights not just the location, but what makes it special: signature cuisine, exceptional service, or unique experiences like dining on the water or doing yoga with a mountain view. Geotags boost visibility through organic search.
Promotional photo publication of Kaya Palazzo Hotels & Resorts in Larisa Filonova’s account
Stories let the audience feel like they're part of the journey — from flights and check-ins to excursions and on-the-go impressions. This format builds trust and creates the sense of ‘I was there too’. Interactive elements like polls, question boxes, and reaction sliders further boost engagement. When combined with Reels and posts, Stories become a key part of a seamless content funnel.
The Russian audience values authenticity. When an influencer shares their own experience — booking a tour, using a transfer service, renting a car — it feels like a genuine recommendation rather than an ad. This approach resonates particularly well in Russia, where honest, relatable feedback is highly appreciated. These kinds of reviews perform especially well when done by micro- and nano-influencers, who often have a deeper level of trust with their audience.
Native review of the ‘1930’ restaurant in Wuhan by micro-influencer Diya
Promo codes and bonuses — whether it's a discount, free service, or a gift — are effective when embedded into a real story. The key is to lead with emotion and personal impressions, then casually add, ‘By the way, there’s a special offer for my followers’. This kind of integration doesn’t feel pushy. Instead, it motivates action in an organic, appealing way.
All inclusive and 25% off: private integration with Angsana Velavaru
These formats can be combined within a single campaign: Reels create the initial visual hook, Stories drive engagement, posts provide details, and promo codes close the funnel. At the same time, it’s crucial to adapt content to each platform — Instagram, Telegram, TikTok — taking into account user behavior and content consumption habits specific to the Russian audience.
Native advertising with non-travel influencers can help brands reach audiences who don’t follow dedicated travel creators but are still interested in journey-related content through other topics.
For example, an advertisement for a travel agency on the account of popular TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak can attract people who have not previously considered traveling but may become interested thanks to compelling and unobtrusive content.
Ksenia's promotional post on travel trendsetter
The audience of influencers often trusts their recommendations, viewing their opinions as more personal and genuine compared to traditional advertising. KOLs’ audience often trust their recommendations, viewing their opinions as more personal and genuine compared to traditional advertising.
For example, a popular style influencer can show how to book a comfortable and stylish hotel room, which looks natural and does not cause rejection.
Promotional post by stylist Lolita Lazarenko about the Hôtel Le Negresco hotel
Such influencers and content creators can effectively stimulate sales and conversions, as their audience is often willing to follow their recommendations. This is especially effective when the advertising is accompanied by promo codes, discounts, or exclusive offers for subscribers.
Once you’ve identified your target audience and promotion channels, the next step is working with the people who can deliver your message to a loyal and engaged followers, i.e. influencers. But success doesn’t come from simply choosing someone popular. It’s about building a smart partnership model that aligns with your campaign goals and the specifics of the local market.
There are several proven collaboration formats on the Russian market, each serving different purposes:
First one is Fixed-rate placements. This involves a set fee for a specific content format — a post, Story, or video review. It’s a good option when you need predictable reach and a clearly defined message.
Second one is a CPA model (Cost Per Action). Here, brands pay for specific user actions — clicks, bookings, subscriptions. This approach is ideal for testing hypotheses and tracking performance with precision.
Third one is Barter. It is especially relevant in the travel sector: the brand provides accommodation, experiences, or services, and the influencer creates content in return, sharing their personal experience with the audience.
Fourth one is a Hybrid model- a combination of fixed payment and a percentage of sales. It helps maintain the influencer’s motivation while keeping the brand’s budget optimized.
It’s worth remembering that starting September 1, 2025, advertising on Instagram targeting Russian audiences will officially be banned. Campaigns can still run until that date, but now is the time to work with influencers who already operate on alternative legal platforms like Telegram, YouTube, or VKontakte. These remain within the legal framework and provide stable access to local audiences.
However, switching platforms isn’t enough. Each one has its own rhythm, strengths, and formats that perform best. Telegram is a great fit for travel guides, curated selections, and special offers with partner links — it’s a space where native tone and personal communication feel natural. YouTube allows for deeper storytelling: video reviews, itineraries, and firsthand experiences all build trust and draw viewers in. VKontakte helps amplify visual content, spark active discussions, and offers precise interest-based targeting.
Creators who have already built loyal audiences on these platforms are key to helping brands maintain their presence in Russia — legally and just as effectively. It also makes the process much smoother: there's no need to urgently replace channels or test unfamiliar platforms. The influencer is already established on a compliant network, has reach, and engages a responsive community. All that’s left is to renew the agreement and launch the integration.
To get the most out of your campaign, the key is a thoughtful, strategic approach.
We recommend launching your first campaigns in test mode by partnering with 3 to 5 influencers of different scales and formats. This lets you quickly gather data, assess who resonates with your audience, and decide which direction to take moving forward.
Keep in mind that content performs better when it spans multiple platforms. Russian users rarely stick to just one channel. Some spend their time in Telegram, others prefer YouTube, while many are most active on VKontakte. By splitting your campaign across these platforms and tailoring the message to fit each format, you can reach a broader audience and increase engagement.
For example, adding promo codes or special offers to the campaign gives users an extra reason to act and provides the brand with a way to track performance by influencer.
One more key point: Russian users are quick to pick up on the difference between an ad and a genuine recommendation. That’s why real experiences, personal stories, and honest impressions are what truly drive results. The less formal it feels, the more trust it builds.
The Russian tourism market is becoming increasingly digital. Consumers are searching for inspiration, reliable destinations, and personalized recommendations. Content creators in this space offer a unique combination of trust, visual impact, and direct conversion potential.
If you’re looking to promote your travel products and services in Russia, start with collaborations with trusted voices in the space. We’ll help you select the right partners, launch your campaign, and track performance throughout.
Do you have questions about promoting your tourism brand? To contact the RMAA team, please fill out the form in the contacts section.
Also, for a more detailed overview of the influencer marketing market in Russia and the CIS, you can download our White Paper.
And if you always want to be the first to receive the latest information about marketing in Russia, subscribe to our blog.
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About the Author
Digital Strategist. Head of one of the project groups at RMAA. Maria started her journey in digital marketing in 2009.
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