NCFD: natural advantages and artificial obstacles
The share of the North Caucasus Federal District in the tourist branch of Russia is 6% only. The share of tourism in GDP of NCFD doesn’t surpass 10%. It was stated in late July at the Dagestan economy forum, which took place in a new trade and exhibition complex, built between Kaspiisk and Makhachkala. 19 foreign delegations took part in the forum, as well as more than thousand experts, businessmen, officials from various regions of Russia. Top direction for NCFD development was called the sphere of tourism, which is still not leading in the region’s economy, even though the North Caucasus has natural competition advantages.
According to the head of the federal Agency on Tourism, Alexander Radkov, unique nature and climate, water resources and cultural variety give opportunity for development of several type of tourism.
Radkov stressed that one of the oldest cities of the world, Derbent, could be a brand of Russia. The World Tourist Organization apprises Dagestan potential as high in the sphere of beach and cruise tourism. Soon the experts of the organization will come to Dagestan for studying opportunities for cruise shipping and development of its development master-plan.
The president of Dagestan, Magomedsalam Magomedov drew attention to development of beach tourism. Dagestan has 600 km of sand beaches, which differes it from the Black Sea coast of Russia. “Implementation of only a part of the Resorts of the North Caucasus project, i.e. development of littoral tourist sphere, enables us to establish 30 thousand working places,” Magomedov said. According to him, the problem of security will be settled too. Young people will be attracted, residents of regions, where resorts will be built, will be integrated in the tourist sphere.
Meanwhile, according to Redkov, today development of the branch is slowed down by lack of modern infrastructure, low investment level, undeveloped transport infrastructure, low quality of service. Underdevelopment of regional airports leads to expensive trips to the North Caucasus. To solvw these problems the state support is needed, as well as development of partnership between the state and business, inter-regional and international cooperation. Redkov stated that the main target is providing of planned financing on development of tourism in NCFD within the federal programme South of Russia.
According to him, the constituents of the North Caucasus Federal District work ineffectively on promotion of the tourist product. Partially it happens because the South of Russia programme doesn’t presuppose spending for promotion of the regional tourist product.
“The Development of inner and incoming tourism in Russia for 2011-2018 federal target programme should be the base for effective work,” the head of the Federal Agency on Tourism said. “Good opportunities are created by signing the memorandum on mutual activity on development of tourism in the North Caucasus between Russia and France in May 2011, as well as establishing of joint ventures by Russian company Resorts of the North Caucasus and the Bank of Paris,” said Redkov and suggested signing an agreement between the Agency on Tourism of Russia and the constituents of NCFD.
The growth of tourist flow in Russia is about 4-6%. To attract NCFD potential thre problems should be solved, according to Redkov,: infrastructure, transport, security. The envoy of the president in NCFD, Alexander Khloponin agreed with it and suggested beginning with the simplest one. “I hear on radio “The tourist firm Mashuk invites Russian citizens to rest in Turkey.” We stopped respect ourselves, as we are ready to take people to Turkey and do not want to show them our own resorts! It is not needed millions and billions dollars. I visited the Dzherakh region of Ingushetia and saw the resources we have got.
What else does the Federal Agency on Tourism need to make the Russia’s citizens come there? Does anyone know about historic monuments in Dagestan, Karachai-Cherkessia, and North Ossetia?”
Khloponin urged the opening of the Caucasus for Russia. He said no huge sums of money are demanded for establishing infrastructure for it. The most effective investors in resorts of the North Caucasus should be tourists.
However, Redkov thinks that the leading role will be played by balance of price and quality: “It is the main motivation for a tourist in choosing where to go.”
Musa Musayev, Makhachkala. Exclusively to VK.
