Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

  • Crete
  • Greece
  • Food
  • Eastern Europe
  • Real Estate
  • World
  • Travel Technology

Russia sanctions

To have, or have not & Russian Tourists in 2015

2015-03-09 by Phil Butler

When Russia’s influence on the Ukraine government of Viktor Yanukovych got challenged by a kind of rampaging western hegemony, all Europe should have studied more closely these relationships. Now, over a year in, the 2015 summer tourist season will probably be a disaster. Regardless of who we lay the blame on for the current west-east detente disaster, […]

Tags: Crete hotels, Cyprus travel, Europe hotels, European commission, Greece tourism, hotel revenue, NATO, rouble, Russia sanctions, sanctions, Ukraine

Europe Tourism Recovery Goes Into Shock

2015-01-23 by Phil Butler

A deserted restaurant along Rue Boucherie Brussels - Courtesy Suvodeb Banerjee

If foreign relations and anti-terror tactics across Europe get any worse, tourism dependent businesses already hit by west versus Russia tensions could finally go belly up. All across the EU soldiers and other security personnel are fanning out in a frantic hunt for suspected radicals. However real or perceived Jihadists or other extremists may be, the danger posed to Europe’s economy. That “recovery” Europe was promised, it’s clear it’s not happening now.

Tags: Brussels, EU Travel, Europe travel, Paris, Russia sanctions

Russian Railways denies any restrictions on employee travel

2014-10-28 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Vladimir Yakunin

News sources this week suggest Russian Railways and some other Russian state run companies may have imposed bans on foreign travel. According to the news, companies in Russia hit by western sanctions allegedly dissuaded employees from visiting countries outside Russia.

Tags: Russia sanctions, Russia travel, Russia travel ban, Russian Railways

Estonia Travel: Feeling the Gut Punch of Sanctions

2014-09-15 by Phil Butler

Welcome to Estonia

A poll taken last month in Estonia reveals the serious impact the Russia sanctions are having on tourism businesses there. According to the poll, the counter sanctions by Russia’s Putin have affected one in five businesses there. Russian tourists represent a big percentage of Estonia travelers, and many fear increased tensions will gut the travel trade there.

Tags: Estonia sanctions, Estonia travel, Finland sanctions, Russia sanctions

EU Sanctions Can’t Keep Aeroflot’s Budget Airline Down

2014-08-26 by Phil Butler

Aeroflot budget carrier

Apparently western sanctions can’t keep a Russian airline giant down. Aeroflot’s being forced to ground fledgling budget airline Dobrolyot over EU sanctions disrupting aircraft leases may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Russia’s biggest airline.

Tags: aeroflot, Dobrolyot, EU sanctions, Russia airlines, Russia sanctions, Russia travel, Vitaly Savelyev

Winter of Russian Traveler Discontent Arrives

2014-08-25 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Russia's Winter of travel discontent

In news from St. Petersburg, apparently another tour operator is going belly up. Atlas, another of Russia’s leading tour companies is expected to go insolvent, suspending operations and perhaps stranding still more Russian tourists abroad.

Tags: Atlas, EU economy, EU tours, Russia sanctions, Russia tourism, Russia tours, sanctions

Europe Tourism Being Body Slammed Over Ukraine

2014-08-21 by Phil Butler

Sanctions on Putin Slam EU Tourism

The negative domino effects from the unrest in Ukraine are being felt all over Europe. In Slovenia hotels are reporting a 20% drop in numbers of Russian tourists already. This dramatic number, from Euronews, represents fully 6% of tourists to that country. But Slovenia is not the only European country being slammed.

Tags: Crimea, EU sanctions, Finland, Putin, Russia sanctions, Russia travelers, slovenia, Ukraine sanctions, US-Russia

EU Sanctions On Russia Provoke Airline Economics War

2014-08-06 by Phil Butler

Vladimir Putin at State Council Presidium meeting on developing social protection system for senior citizens. - Via The Kremlin

This morning business daily Vedomosti has reported, Russia may begin restricting European airlines from flying over Siberia on Asian routes. The move, if enacted, would imposed crippling costs on some European carriers. To make matters worse, the underlying business infrastructure of all countries will certainly be negatively affected.

Tags: airline costs, airlines, Asia flights, British Airways, EU sanctions, Lufthansa, Russia sanctions, Vladimir Putn

Weight of Ukraine Unrest, Sanctions, Threaten EU Economies

2014-05-07 by Phil Butler

Jean Claude Juncker

The Ukraine unrest unfolding, US and NATO versus Russia challenges and sanctions, threaten to unravel any hope of continued EU economic recovery. This, according to an ITAR-TASS report, must be weighed against European Commission contentions. Whatever the case for western EU nations, tourism and other sectors in eastern Europe will certainly be stifled.

Tags: banks, EU, EU elections, European commission, IMF, ITAR-TASS, Jean Claude Juncker, Luxembourg, NATO, Russia, Russia sanctions, Siim Kallas, Ukraine, Ukraine unrest

Maria Papadaki ad banner

Featured Stories

€52M Greek Fisheries Scandal

European Public Prosecutor’s Office Investigates €52M EU Fisheries Fund Scandal in Greece

Heraklion old cold-storage warehouse

Heraklion’s Old Cold-Storage Warehouse Gets Green Light for Hotel Conversion

Special Olympics Kayaking Games AI illustration

Crete to Host European Special Olympics Kayaking Games at Lake Kournas

Heraklion Fishermen Protest

Cretan Fishermen Stage Black-Flag Protest Over Fuel Costs and Regulations

greek bakeries

Greece’s Bakeries Warn of Higher Bread Prices

Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

Lovage, The Kitchen of Venus

Your go-to guide for foraging cretan horta

Stories of Interest

Chania Recycling Cooking Oil

Chania Launches €310K Smart Sanitation and Rewarding Cooking Oil Recycling Initiative

2026-10-16 By Victoria Udrea

Chania unveils a €310K smart sanitation and reward-based cooking oil recycling program, setting a high standard that should be adopted island-wide across Crete.

27-year-old man arrested

27-Year-Old Arrested at Heraklion Port Trying to Buy Piraeus Ferry Ticket Without Travel Papers

2026-10-16 By Argophilia Travel News

Coast Guard officers arrest a 27-year-old man at Heraklion port for attempting to buy a Piraeus ferry ticket without papers and verbally abusing officers.

Crete Car Rental Market

Crete Accounts for 18.1% of Greece’s Car Rental Market

2026-10-15 By Kostas Raptis

Crete has Greece’s second-largest short-term car rental market, as tourists increasingly rent vehicles to explore beaches, villages, and mountain routes.

strong tourism season

Strong October Finishes Robust Tourism Season in Crete

2026-10-15 By Arthur Butler

Cretan hotels report 80-90% occupancy in October as the tourism season extends through mid-November, supported by sustained flight connections and winter city demand.

Malevizi road collapse

School Bus Tilts After Road Gives Way in Crete’s Agia Marina

2026-10-15 By Iorgos Pappas

Students were safely evacuated after a school bus tilted on a washed-out road in Malevizi, prompting essential driving safety advice for visitors on Crete’s roads.

More Crete travel news

  • Authors
  • Contributors
  • Submit Press Release
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2026 · ARGOPHILIA TRAVEL NEWS