By Oleg Ponomaryev
Recently it turned out that the Russian government continues to support the development of the tourism potential of Dagestan, but the project of the Matlas Resort in the Khunzakhsky district of Dagestan will be changed. Vice-premier Alexander Khloponin has recently commented on this. He thinks that the idea is good: Matlas is perfect for construction of a resort, but not a ski resort, as was planned initially. The vice-premier explains that the project will take a lot of time and huge investments. To build road infrastructure, more than 20 billion rubles will be needed.
A source in the federal authorities states that at the moment new models on development of the Matlas Resort are being created – less expensive and more real. “The project will involve a large part of private investments, but under state support,” the source says.
The same commonsense approach can be noticed toward other expensive projects of the North Caucasus tourism cluster. First of all, considering the changing situation in the economy and the new reality and prospects, expenditure is being cut on the basis of simple economic benefit. There is no reason to consider them as steps backward.
In early June the plenipotentiary envoy of the Russian President in the NCFD, Sergei Melikov, conducted his first extended meeting in Grozny, where issues of development of industry in the regions were discussed. It was noted that in the sphere of industrial production, according to the first three months of 2014, we can see positive dynamics in all regions of the district. The envoy stated that it is necessary to reflect the real picture and openly speak about problems.
Such approaches mean striving for improvement of the working process, rather than changing the general course. Optimization of the management structure of the district means the same. The main role in settlement of economic issues now belongs to the Ministry for North Caucasus Affairs. It will deal with fulfilling the general policy in the economy developed in previous years, but with certain corrections.
Concerning development of tourism in the NCFD, it is preference for facilities which are quickly self-financing. For example, the Caucasian Spas project very much needs development and effective management. A law on a special status of the Stavropol recreation zone is planned to be developed for this. Vice-premier Alexander Khloponin reported about such plans at government hour in the Federation Council.
By 2017 Stavropol Territory will have received more than 32 billion rubles from the federal budget within programs for development of resorts, according to the Ministry of Economic Development of Stavropol Territory. 5 billion rubles will be allocated to construction of a balneological cluster.
The head of the Ministry for North Caucasus Affairs, Lev Kuznetsov, thinks that Caucasian Spas needs the development of a healthcare cluster. The Minister also notes the importance of Caucasian Spas in the resort structure, and the future healthcare cluster will be based on this aspect.
However, tourism is not the only option. In Ingushetia alone, the smallest region of the district, 23 major investment projects of various characters are being implemented. Special economic zones (8 investment projects) will be established in 2014 in the Chechen Republic – in Grozny, Argun, and the Sunzhensky District, as well as in other constituents of the North Caucasus.
Fulfillment of complex programs on development of the region in various directions continues – not only in the economy, but also in the social sphere, healthcare, education, culture and youth policy. It means that the district is getting new impetus for a growth. Such a shake-up is usually for the best.
