By Elena Teslova</p> <p>MOSCOW (AA) – Turkey was the most popular foreign destination for Russian tourists in 2018, with visitor numbers rising 25 percent, said a trade group on Wednesday.</p> <p>The overall Russian tourist flow grew 8 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year, Maya Lomidze, head of the Russian Association of Tour Operators, told a news conference in Moscow.</p> <p>This growth was ensured thanks to high demand for tours to several countries, including Turkey, she said.</p> <p>"The tourist flow to Turkey grew 25 percent this year. The number one destination in 2018 was Turkey," she added.</p> <p>Other popular destinations for Russian tourists include Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, and France.</p> <p>Lomidze stressed that visa-free travel and short-terms flights are among the most important factors when Russia tourists choose their destination.</p> <p><br>
