Valentina Matvienko, the Chairman of the Federation Council, talked with guests of the all-season resort Arkhyz during the teleconference organized with the assistance of PJSCRostelecom within the framework of the Days of Karachay-Cherkessia in the upper House of the Russian Parliament.

In July 2014, during her official visit to the Republic, Valentina Matvienko already visited the resort Arkhyz and highly appreciated the pace of development of the resort. "I came to Arkhyz and was amazed that within such a short period of time the first stage of the world-class resort was accomplished considering international experience. This is a high-level and class resort," said Valentina Matvienko.

During the teleconference, Valentina Matvienko asked resort guests - students of Karachay-Cherkessia - about their impressions and their profession plans in relation to implementation of the ArkhyzATRC project. One of the students, a resident of Karachay-Cherkessia, studying at the department of tourism and service told us that she already undertook an internship at the Arkhyz resort and was sure of her successful employment. "Thanks to the active development of the resort, I don’t worry about finding a workplace by profession," she said.

The head of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Rashid Temrezov told Valentina Matvienko that ArkhyzATRC was a priority investment project for the Republic, being effectively implemented in cooperation with the State company Northern Caucasus Resorts, and that is why this very facility was chosen as the place for the first teleconference bridge in the history which connected the Council of the Federation with the region.  

Answering the question asked by Valentina Matvienko concerning the dynamics achieved during implementation of the project since her visit to the site, Director General of JSC Northern Caucasus Resorts, Oleg Gorchev, said that tourist flow growth indicators showed that many tourists took her advice to visit Arkhyz. The resort demonstrates good attendance. Thus, in winter 2013 there were 35 thousand visitors and in winter 2015 the figure reached 100 thousand visitors. Following the results of winter 2016, the resort is expected to take up to 150 thousand visitors,” he told, also noting that in this relation active work is being carried out to develop the ski and resort hotel infrastructure.  "One more lift and ski slopes with a total length of 6.7 kilometres will be built by the season 2015/2016. Thus, the length of the ArkhyzATRC slopes will be 14.1 km the next season which shows almost double growth,” added Oleg Gorchev.

According to his words, the resort infrastructure can handle up to 5000 persons a day, according to this indicator, growth will amount to 56 percent in relation to the season 2014/2015. To address these challenges, JSC NCR has invested about 3 billion roubles in ArkhyzATRC this year.

In conclusion, Valentina Matvienko noted the importance of close coordination of the federal and regional resources in the implementation of such large-scale projects as ArkhyzATRC and noted positive interaction between JSC NCR and the government of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. She also drew attention to the need to ensure availability of ArkhyzATRC for all categories of tourists with different levels of income. “Now the head of the Republic, together with the President of the Legislative Assembly is in the Federation Council to celebrate the Days of the Republic. And we will also discuss this issue. It is important that as many as possible Russian tourists can come to you, taking into account international situation in the world. It is quieter and safer at home. And the conditions created by the state in this resort are better than at some leading ski resorts abroad," she said.

Making a speech at the meeting of the Council of Federation, the head of the Karachay-Cherkessia said that tourism industry was “one of the strategic directions” in the Republic. "The splendor of nature, richness of its mineral springs and a variety of objects of cultural and historical heritage in the Karachay-Cherkessia has long attracted tourists and holidaymakers. One of the major investment projects is creation of an all-season mountain resort Arkhyz implemented within the framework of the public-private partnership. State company Northern Caucasus Resorts and investors helped to lay ski tracks, to build and successfully operate ropeways, while comfort is ensured by cozy hotels. And though the project is still in its active phase, substantial growth of interest from holidaymakers and tourists is observed already," he noted. "We understand that Arkhyz, as famous Dombai and Teberda, is the face of the Republic, the pledge of our investment attractiveness, the project which can give impetus to the development of dozens of related sectors of economy, creating new jobs for local residents,” concluded Rashid Temrezov.

Summing up, the speaker of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, called Arkhyz resort “a true gem" and expressed confidence in its further dynamic development.