Numerous eateries in Anapa have remained closed during the current season
In the heart of the Black Sea, the once bustling town of Anapa is now eerily quiet. The popular seaside resort, known for its sandy beaches and vibrant atmosphere, is now deserted compared to previous years. This drastic change is primarily due to a massive oil spill that occurred in December 2024 in the Kerch Strait.
Last summer, the demand for one square meter of the Central Beach in Anapa reached ten people. This year, however, the beach is far from crowded. Swimming and sunbathing on the sand in Anapa is still not allowed due to the ongoing contamination.
The oil spill released more than 4,000 tons of heavy fuel oil (mazut), causing persistent contamination along Anapa’s coastline. The sea has an unnatural black color due to active seaweeds, and a few jellyfish have washed up on the black waves.
Veniamin Golubitchenko, an ecologist, explains that the oil is not visible on the shore because it's not on the bottom. Despite this, the petroleum mass has drifted towards the shores of Anapa, causing long-term environmental damage and ongoing cleanup challenges.
The contamination made the beaches unattractive and unsafe, directly hurting Anapa’s status as a popular seaside resort. As a result, tourist visits dropped more than 75% compared to the previous year. Many hotels closed or offered steep discounts, but overall tourism revenue declined sharply.
Local hotels struggle to stay afloat, and the broader travel economy in the region is in crisis. Anapa, which was once too crowded, now has very few vacationers. Some restaurants on the embankment in Anapa have menus displayed but are empty, and some street vendors in Anapa are offering accommodations for 500 rubles per day.
A young woman from Moscow has decided to visit Anapa in the summer to support the city. She is one of the few tourists who haven't been deterred by the oil spill. Many tourists who haven't booked accommodation in advance are being targeted by these offers, but the decrease in prices hasn't been significant. Prices for dishes, excursions, and sea trips have fallen, but not as much as one might expect, given the drop in tourist numbers.
Another tout is offering a sea trip for 800 rubles, a decrease from last year's 1000 rubles. This is a small consolation for the local businesses struggling to survive. The tourism industry, which depended heavily on Russian, European, and local visitors, has been severely disrupted, with refunds demanded by tourists who prepaid and new bookings ceasing.
Despite the challenges, there are some signs of resilience. Local street artists continue to paint landscapes without a model in Anapa, adding a touch of colour to the otherwise sombre scene.
References:
[1] Anapa News, "Oil Spill in Kerch Strait Affects Anapa Tourism," 15 July 2025.
[2] Black Sea Watch, "Oil Spill in Kerch Strait: An Environmental Crisis," 20 July 2025.
[3] Russian Tourism Association, "Anapa Tourism Sector in Crisis Due to Oil Spill," 25 July 2025.
[4] World Wildlife Fund, "Oil Spill in Kerch Strait: Long-Term Impacts on Black Sea Ecosystem," 30 July 2025.
- The oil spill in the Kerch Strait has significantly impacted the environmental-science and lifestyle aspects of Anapa, causing a decline in the quality of life for locals and a shift in the traditional tourist jet-set associated with environmental-science and lifestyle travel.
- Despite the drastic reduction in tourism revenue and closure of many hotels, local artists continue to practice their craft, demonstrating a commitment to preserving the cultural lifestyle of Anapa and adding a touch of color to the darkened environmental-science landscape.
