A new oil spill near Anapa may affect tourist traffic.

      What happened this time

      A new stain was discovered in the sea last week. According to the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar region, the source of the pollution has not yet been precisely identified. However, one of the theories being considered is drone attacks on civilian vessels and coastal facilities in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas.

      This is already the second incident in April. Recall that on April 11, the stain was recorded about 11 kilometers from the shore. The exact volume of petroleum products that entered the water has not been specified. Due to the wind, the stain has fragmented into separate pieces, which seriously complicates its localization.

      Expert: the origin of the pollution is not the main issue

      Ecologist Georgy Kavanoyan believes that disputes over the causes should not overshadow the problem itself.

      “The presence of petroleum products in the Black Sea is unacceptable in any form,” the ecologist is quoted by the portal 56orb.ru. “And the fragmentation of the stain by the wind has made the work pinpoint, which requires more time and resources.”

      The expert emphasizes: until the stain is completely eliminated, it is premature to talk about the complete safety of the resort.

      Tourists are waiting in anticipation

      According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), this year Anapa expects to receive about 3.5 million vacationers. However, these optimistic figures may not come true.

      ATOR Vice President Sergey Romashkin noted a 40-50% increase in requests for the destination compared to last year. But, as other experts clarify, demand is currently “on pause.”

      Natalya Fetisova, General Director of the tour operator company TT GROUP (also President of the Social Development Fund for Tourism “TT Fund”), explained in a comment to newsler.ru:

      “The increase in requests does not mean that everyone proceeds to booking. The news about the oil stain and footage of affected birds on social media have once again hit the resort's reputation. Tourists are waiting for official safety guarantees.”

      Fetisova also pointed out the availability of free seats on trains for May, June, and early July — in the best years, tickets for the high season sold out on the day of sale. “We see a pause. People want to return to a familiar place, but they need confirmed statements that the vacation is safe,” the expert summarizes.

      “It won’t be like before”

      According to the resort administration, a fine fraction of fuel oil still remains in the sand. Work on replenishing and rehabilitating the beaches is expected to last until early July. In other words, almost a third of the high season will pass in a “recovery process.”

      “This is not a death sentence for vacations, but an important nuance for planning,” comments Natalya Fetisova. “Economy hotels will attract customers with price. First of all, social tourists and residents of neighboring regions will travel — for them, alternatives are more expensive. And long-distance travelers need a convincing argument to choose Anapa.”

      The expert reminds that there were already problems with water quality even before the fuel oil spill (periodic “blooming” of the sea). According to her, this season is unlikely to offer a mass relaxed vacation “like before.”

      The situation remains alarming but not catastrophic. Authorities and volunteers have time until the end of June to restore the beaches. However, the final decision on whether to go to Anapa in 2026 will be made by each tourist individually, based on official reports and, most likely, reviews from the first vacationers.