Travel companies in Russia’s Far East report that military exercises near the Kamchatka Peninsula are resulting in losses amounting to tens of millions of rubles due to the shutdown of vital maritime routes during the peak tourist season.

On Tuesday, the Kamchatka Tourism Industry Association (KTIA) revealed that the Russian military’s naval exercises have led to losses exceeding 50 million rubles (over $635,000) for local enterprises.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, these naval drills, which involve 40 warships, 30 aircraft, and over 5,000 troops in the Pacific, are scheduled to take place from June 16 to June 30.

However, the KTIA has reported that maritime traffic has been suspended and Avacha Bay, a crucial area for sightseeing cruises, was unexpectedly closed last Friday without prior notice to operators.

“People typically reserve tours three to four months in advance. We were unaware of the drills until we were abruptly informed that the sea was off-limits,” KTIA chairwoman Yelena Lassal shared with the Telegram news channel Govorit Nemoskva.

Travel agencies project weekly losses of at least 50 million rubles due to these disruptions, and are also confronted with possible lawsuits from tourists, as well as the necessity to provide refunds and pay penalties for canceled excursions.

The KTIA cautioned that these closures are severely affecting the local economy. Boat tours are an essential revenue stream for the region’s tourism sector, which depends heavily on the brief summer season to manage operational expenses such as fuel, maintenance, and taxes.

“Every day of favorable weather during the peak season is extremely valuable,” stated the KTIA in a release.

Lassal mentioned that some companies attempted to implement security measures like passenger screening in order to continue their trips, but still did not receive approval from the military.

“Today, around 500 tourists were left stranded on boats for five hours, waiting for clearance that never materialized,” she added.