Sochi is the calling card of the Russian tourist south, hosting millions of visitors from all over the world every year. However, starting from September 1, 2025, the resort's tourism industry will face a number of changes that complicate the hotel booking process. We'll figure out exactly what awaits vacationers and how to avoid surprises together.

In recent years, Sochi has undergone a number of upgrades in infrastructure and service standards, supported by federal initiatives to develop tourism. However, starting in September 2025, new regulations and technological updates will come into force, designed to increase the safety and transparency of travel services. These measures include the introduction of updated online registration requirements, enhanced control over the legitimacy of apartments, and changes to the rules for working with aggregators.

One of the main difficulties will be the mandatory electronic certification of guests through the unified state register, which will increase the time for booking. In addition, hotels will be required to confirm each booking request through specialized platforms, which clearly increases the burden on booking services, especially during peak seasons.

The economic effect of the new rules is, on the one hand, the elimination of fraudsters and dubious hostels, on the other, the likely increase in the cost of rooms due to administrative costs. It is expected that small hotels will face problems integrating new technologies and will be able to reduce their competition with large chains capable of investing in software and expertise.

Expert opinions
According to Natalia Kravtsova, head of the Association of the Russian Tourism Industry, "the introduction of new standards is a necessary step towards the European level of service, but successful implementation requires a period of adaptation, support for small and medium—sized businesses and transparent communication with consumers."

Dmitry Ivanov, an expert on digital technologies in tourism, emphasizes that "digitalization of the booking process increases safety and convenience, but so far in large cities, and in the regions, the technical base needs to be improved. For Sochi, 2025 is a kind of readiness test."

Numerous tourist reviews on the forums have already registered concern — people are afraid that the new order may lead to delays, booking errors and additional costs. For example, a married couple from Moscow shared that an attempt to book a hotel for the beginning of September 2025 took on average twice as long.

Our interlocutor, the administrator of one of the Sochi hotels, noted: "We are preparing for innovations, but we are afraid that some customers will leave for alternative platforms or prefer other resorts due to difficulties."

Conclusion
Sochi is preparing for significant changes in the tourist service. To avoid disappointment, travelers should book accommodation in advance, carefully check the legitimacy of booking operators and keep an eye on updates to the rules. The innovations promise to improve the quality and safety of recreation, but the first few months will be a test for all market participants — from guests to hotels.

Understanding these changes and early preparation will help to maintain the main goal of enjoying the resort, without unnecessary hassle.

Keywords: Sochi 2025 hotel reservations, Sochi booking difficulties, Sochi tourist changes, new hotel booking rules, electronic passporting of guests, tourism in Sochi 2025