Hoteliers and residents of Anapa are skeptical about the start of the holiday season.

By June 1, new sand will appear on all sandy beaches in Anapa, as the government commission for the fuel oil spill cleanup has deemed this an effective solution. Water and soil samples from the pebble beaches meet standards, and they are being prepared for reopening, according to the governor of Kuban. The quality of the sand delivered to the Anapa beach is questionable; it is construction sand with clay admixtures, the ecologist pointed out, noting that this could cause long-term damage to the beaches. Users believe that the goal of opening the beaches will be achieved despite the environmental damage. Environmentalists and activists point out that quarry sand will not solve the problem of fuel oil emissions, but will only temporarily conceal the pollution on Anapa's beaches. According to Dmitry Bogdanov, Chairman of the Expert Council of the AMOS Hoteliers Association, Anapa could see a 30-50% increase in 2026 compared to last year. "The 2026 season in Anapa promises to be truly hot. But it's still noticeably less than, for example, the 2024 season," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on April 3. He cited "the closed airport and problems with transport accessibility" as key factors hindering recovery. In his opinion, "returning to peak levels will take another three to four years."

"The key factor for the season will be the level of tourist confidence - it will determine whether the resort can approach pre-crisis levels or remain in the recovery phase," Bogdanov added.

Sergey Romashkin, CEO of the tour operator "Dolphin," gives a similar assessment. "The growth in bookings for Anapa in the first quarter of 2026 amounted to 35-40% compared to the same period in 2025. This is partly due to the low base effect, but tourists' expectations for the beaches to open are more significant," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to forecasts, the resort will welcome approximately 3.2-3.5 million tourists in 2026, compared to 2.3 million in 2025 and 4.5 million in 2024. A particularly significant increase is expected during the May holidays – up to 80% compared to last year.

Despite the overall market growth, some hotel industry representatives are reporting serious problems.

Elena Bauer, General Manager of the four-star DREAM HOTEL ANAPA (Pionersky Prospekt, first coastline), notes a sharp decline in occupancy. "This year, we have seen a nearly 60% decrease in bookings compared to last year," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her, the amount of refunds for cancelled bookings has already exceeded 2 million rubles. "We have to use expensive loans to pay salaries. The announced support measures are intended only for health resorts with their own beaches," she explained.

The hotel is trying to compensate for the drop in demand with alternative formats. "We've stepped up our entertainment, developed wine and gastronomic tours, and partnered with golf and equestrian clubs," she listed.

At the same time, Bauer acknowledged that some business is reorienting itself to other regions. "Karelia is a place of power. Currently, these types of secluded vacations are more in demand than the classic resorts of the Krasnodar Territory," she added.

The situation in the small accommodation segment is also unstable. Anna, the owner of a 10-room guesthouse in Anapa, reported a decline in demand. "The occupancy rates we had before the fuel oil emergency aren't there." "People book rarely and for short periods," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her, the bulk of the flow is made up of regular customers: "Those who have known us for a long time are coming, but many are still wary, despite the announcements about opening the season."

Some market participants are leaving the industry altogether. For example, Anton Anpilogov, a former sales employee at the Seventh Heaven Hotel, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he "left the hotel business."

Industry representatives are guided by official statements. According to Olga Yemelyanova, a representative of the AMOS Hoteliers Association, the key benchmark was the Russian Deputy Prime Minister's announcement about plans to open the beaches by June 1. "More than 90% of the fuel oil has been removed, and the water is suitable for use," she quoted the federal government's position to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Anapa City Duma Deputy Oleg Yantsen reported a decline in activity. "I don't see the flow of tourists we had before the fuel oil spill," he admitted. Local residents say cafes and restaurants are gradually opening, and hiring is underway, but at a slower pace than in previous years. Prices, however, remain relatively high, which is also curbing demand. Particular attention is being paid to the upcoming school holidays. Krasnodar Krai authorities plan to welcome up to 355,000 children this summer, including in Anapa. "Twenty-six children's health centers are expected to open, which is 12% more than the previous year," Anapa officials reported on the Anapa administration website.

Local resident Tatyana considers the situation in the city controversial. "There's a lot of fuel oil. I've seen it myself on the beach. Every time I go, I see this fuel oil. Don't the authorities see it? They want to open the season for money, without any concern for people, let alone children. How can we talk about health improvements when the situation on the coast and beaches is so dire? You can pretend everything is fine and ignore the fact that the sea continues to wash up with fuel oil after every rough sea, but those with a good head on their shoulders naturally won't go to Anapa for vacation. Those who care about their health will go to a clean and safe place, where there have been no emergencies. "Those interested in free travel packages, not health and safety, will naturally go to Anapa and swim in the sea. And if they don't think about their health, the state certainly won't," she said.

A local resident believes that allocating budget funds for children's health and sending them to breathe fuel oil in Anapa after a major disaster is a crime and a waste of funds. The woman also believes that officials are violating the law by concealing the true state of nature after the emergency and its impact on living organisms.

The correspondent heard similar statements from other local residents who doubt the veracity of Rospotrebnadzor's information.

Ecologist Igor Shkradyuk draws attention to the possible risks for those who nevertheless decided to vacation at the state's expense. "Contact with skin is more dangerous now. Fuel oil is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He also noted that the most severe consequences were observed in the first months after the spill.

According to residents, warnings prohibiting swimming at a number of beaches remain in place. The issues of fencing and patrolling areas remain unclear: some residents believe the authorities should oversee these areas, while others believe parents are responsible. Information on large-scale measures similar to last year's patrols is still scarce.

On December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. A crew member of one of the tankers died as a result. In addition, an oil spill occurred, leading to catastrophic environmental consequences, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Fuel Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait".

Materials on the consequences of the fuel oil spill have been collected by the Caucasian Knot on the page "Eco-disaster in Kuban".