Aswan: Egypt has topped the list of favorable tourist destinations for Russian tourists, reflecting the strength of relations between Egypt and Russia, member of the Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF) Hossam Hazaa said Tuesday. The ETF member stated in a discussion on the "Good Morning Egypt Program" that hotel occupancy rates have seen a notable increase in tourists from various nationalities, particularly the Russians, during the New Year celebrations.According to State Information Service Egypt, Hazaa highlighted that Russians prefer Egypt as a tourist destination due to its moderate winter weather, premium tourism services, and the convenience of direct flights between the two countries. Most Russian tourists opt for beach vacations, especially in popular locations like Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, and South Sinai.Hazaa further mentioned that Egypt topped the list of tourist destinations for Russians during the New Year holiday, surpassing other favored destinations for Russian tourists such as the UAE, Turkey, and Thailand. A study conducted by several institutions, including the Russian Insurance Company Rosgosstrakh, revealed that 32 percent of Russian tourists chose to spend their New Year holiday in Egypt.The study also indicated that the UAE was the second most popular choice, with 16 percent of Russian tourists favoring it for the New Year holiday, followed by Thailand in third place with 14 percent.