Russian tourists in Saxony: A decline with dark shadows

Russian tourists in Saxony: A decline with dark shadows

In Dresden, life for many Russian citizens and their descendants is no longer as carefree as it was before February 24, 2022, the day on which the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began. The saleswoman Elena H. describes how the mood in her surroundings has changed. Previously carefree, her daughter now advises her to stop speaking Russian in the supermarket for fear of negative reactions. Fears and insecurities that have increased since the start of the war are repeatedly brought up in conversations. Opera singer Anna Netrebko, who was no longer allowed to perform in various cities, also symbolizes this concern that hangs over the community like a shadow. Jörg Eichler from the Saxon Refugee Council notes that there is little exchange with the community of Russian origin, which itself speaks of a “diffuse mood”.

Although there are no direct violent attacks, Elena H. and her colleague Stefanie L. report bullying in the supermarket. “I was once insulted by a customer,” remembers Stefanie. There were also negative comments about her place of work on social media. The circumstances have led to the supermarket changing its range: Instead of Russian specialties, there are now more Eastern European products. Import problems for Russian goods such as matryoshka dolls, which are now only available from China, compound the challenges for operators.

Common roots and tensions

In these difficult times, disagreements occasionally arise - especially in contact with Ukrainian customers. However, it is important for everyone involved that politics is not placed at the center of the discussions. Priest Roman Bannack from the Russian Orthodox Church in Dresden emphasizes that his congregation, which consists of half Russians and half Ukrainians, focuses on spiritual matters. “We want to build bridges instead of walls,” he says.

But the trace of Russian culture is not only noticeable in everyday life; there is also a dramatic decline in Russian visitors in the tourism sector. In 2019, Saxony recorded 90,000 overnight stays by Russian tourists, but in 2022 there were fewer than 8,500. Veronika Hiebl, managing director of the Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen, reports a further decline of 10.9 percent in 2025. Shopping as well as culture and music were once major attractions for Russian guests, who often stayed in upscale hotels. Medical tourism also played a significant role in the Saxon tourism sector.

Demographic backgrounds

The Russian community in Germany is diverse. Around four million people from the former Soviet Union or its successor states live here, the largest group being the Russian-German repatriates. In addition to these, there are also Jewish quota refugees who came to Germany, especially in the 1990s, to escape persecution and discrimination. Many of these migrants, like Eugen and Tatjana Rihovski, who came to Germany with their families in the 1990s, now feel like they are German, but still maintain their Russian roots.

The war led to a boom in the number of people moving in and out of Germany. There were more than two million immigrants in 2022, with the majority of immigrants coming from Ukraine. This change has an impact on society as a whole, and the integration of communities is more important than ever. However, how long communities will continue to suffer from these tensions remains to be seen.

The current situation shows once again how complex the issues of migration and integration are and how closely they are linked to the political situation. As long as the war continues, tourism will not be able to return to the old normal, as Veronika Hiebl makes clear.