The pandemic first and the war in Ukraine then, with the sanctions imposed by the European Union on personalities linked to Vladimir Putin, have almost eliminated the arrivals of the oligarchs or simply of the rich Russians in the most exclusive locations of the island: the Costa Smeralda in the north. and to the south the Forte Village of Santa Margherita di Pula.

"This year the Russians have disappeared - confirms Federalberghi Sardinia - In 2019 they were worth 2.5% of arrivals, with the pandemic they went below 1%, all absorbed by the super rich, while in 2022 the flow was it is practically zeroed . Citizens with double passports are an exception, but these do not pass through the hotel system: they are oligarchs who own luxury villas, especially on the Costa Smeralda ".

The few arrivals remain in their residences maintaining a low profile, no outings in the square in Porto Cervo or trips on their mega yachts.

The strong decline in the Russian market is also confirmed by the leaders of Fort Villlage , the exclusive luxury resort owned by the Chechen brothers Musa and Mavlit Bazhaev - very close to Putin - repeatedly awarded as the best in the world and among the most popular places for institutional meetings of entrepreneurs, politicians and VIPs.

"This year we have recorded a decrease of about 80% in Russian presences - says Lorenzo Giannuzzi, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Forte to Ansa - However, we have managed to compensate for the lack of the Russian market well beyond expectations with a significant growth of our traditional and emerging markets which historically covered a less consistent percentage, in particular the USA and the Middle East ".

(Unioneonline / D)

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