Oleg Safonov, the head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency, said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza that the Caucasus coast was one of the most popular resort places in Russia. Sochi saw over 5 million visitors in 2014 and about 6 million are expected this year, 12.5 million people and around 25 million respectively in Krasnodar Territory.
Safonov noted that the Caucasus had enormous potential in need of developing. About a million people visited Rosa Khutor, in his words. The official sees good potential in Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia. The Tourism Agency is realizing resort projects in Dagestan and Adygeya. Chechnya has very interesting projects given life.
According to WCIOM surveys conducted in 130 residential areas of 46 Russian regions on May 16-17, 27% of Russians plan to spend the summer vacation in Crimea this year, 23% on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Territory, 12% in other places of Russia
