Travel boycott brewing? Rick Steves' Europe cancels tours to Russia over Ukraine invasion
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has had an immediate global impact, including worldwide outrage and economic sanctions. It is also causing a ripple effect across the travel industry. Russia has banned U.K. airlines from its airspace after the U.K. imposed sanctions barring Aeroflot from its airspace and landing there.
TPG has already reported on how numerous cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, have canceled all stops at the port in St. Petersburg, Russia, for the remainder of 2022 at least. The reason given for those cancellations was safety. Norwegian sent a letter to travel agents earlier this week that read in part: "The health, safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. Due to the escalated situation between Russia and Ukraine we have made the decision to alter itineraries."
However, we're learning of another interruption in travel to Russia that cites a different reason — a desire to avoid adding money to the coffers of Russia's authoritarian leadership. Rick Steves' Europe is canceling all of its 2022 tours that include stops in Russia, effective immediately.
Steves himself announced the decision in a blog post, saying, "Our mission at RSE is to help Americans better know and understand our neighbors through travel. But when we bring travelers to another country, we also bring their dollars — dollars that would support Putin's aggression. Therefore, as of today, we have canceled all 2022 tours that include a stop in Russia."
For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter
According to the Washington Post, the tours impacted by the decision include the "Best of St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Helsinki in 9 Days Tour," which included five days in St. Petersburg. Departures for that tour were scheduled to start in May and were sold out through September. RSE had just resumed its tours this month after putting them on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Steves told the Post that his decision was based on "a matter of principle."
The decision to cancel trips to Russia for reasons other than safety concerns could gain momentum as news from Ukraine about the violence there spreads. We have not heard of other members of the travel industry making a similar decision, but it stands to reason that the longer the Russian invasion of Ukraine goes on, the potential for a full-on travel boycott of Russia grows.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.