In the near to the VTRK "Arkhyz" territory settlement Arkhyz of the Zelenchuksky District of Karachay-Cherkess Republic, it has been established an Association of tourism entrepreneurs. The Association's activities will focus on the development of the market of services in the sphere of tourism and on the coordination of business activities by establishing common standards and regulations for the provision of services in the field of tourism.

Ruslan Guediev, a resident of the settlement Arkhyz and one of the investors of the tourist-recreational special economic zone "Arkhyz" who had received the resident status in December 2015, was elected the Director of the Association of tourism entrepreneurs. "Now in the settlement Arkhyz, almost 90% of the working population is employed in the hospitality industry: someone organizes the hire, someone - the rafting, horseback riding excursions; there are hotels and foodservice outlets open. But the time dictates new rules, and to start the ski resort "Arkhyz", it had become necessary to modernize the scope of travel services for the better, and that was the main reason for the Association creation," he said.

Much attention in the Association work will be given to improve the quality of tourism services provided in the settlement Arkhyz, including by improving the qualifications and training of the employees of the enterprises working in the field of tourism, as well as by exchanging the experience in the development and application of the most effective service delivery methods in the hospitality industry. The Association plans to make a common data bank of the settlement Arkhyz tourist services and to create a uniform dispatching network on the capabilities of recreation and leisure activities on its territory. "In cooperation with the responsible regional offices, it is necessary to organize a timely garbage collection. Information boards should be installed so that guests knew where and what services they can get. We plan to enter the "Rossavtodor" with a proposal to improve the settlement road infrastructure: we need sidewalks, fences, so that tourists could safely move through the settlement, and much more", commented Ruslan Guediev.

According to the Northern Caucasus Resorts JSC General Director Oleg Gorchev, the creating of a professional tourist association is a clear indication of the positive socio-economic impact which has the SEZ "Arkhyz" development on the entire region life. "In the period of the resort working in the settlement Arkhyz, which takes some of the load to provide accommodation and food for tourists, to organize their vacation, the tourist infrastructure has significantly expanded with new holiday homes, hotels and cafes opened; ski equipment rental agencies and excursion service agencies are functioning. Accordingly, there are new jobs held by local residents," he said.

"In general, as noted by the resort guests, the quality of services in the settlement has significantly increased, the local business is trying to be on the highest level of service, given by the VTRK "Arkhyz". I am convinced that, as a result of activities of the Association of tourism entrepreneurs, the settlement Arkhyz will be an important part of the tourism industry of Karachay-Cherkessia, and it will be able to complement the range of services provided in the VTRK "Arkhyz" territory. And these are the tourists who will most of all benefit from this cooperation", said the JSC "KSK" head.