Western sanctions imposed on Russia in mid-2014 have led to a significant increase in ‘staycation' holidays as outbound tourism has fallen by 40% since the summer. Parts of Siberia such as Lake Baikal are enjoying a significant rise in visitor numbers. Buryatia tourism officials predict this will continue in 2015, as overseas trips are becoming too expensive for Russians with the current devaluation of the rouble. They are also expecting increased visitor numbers from Asia, particularly China, South Korea and Mongolia. Siberian tourism officials also point out that infrastructure for wealthy foreign tourists looking for top-end accommodation is currently lacking. Read more: siberiantimes.com