Today, on September 30, within the framework of the International Economic Forum Sochi-2016, Lev Kuznetsov, Minister of the North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Oleg Gorchev, Director General of the North Caucasus Resorts JSC, discussed the future development of tourism cluster in the North Caucasus under the management of JSC NCR. They also took into account the decision of the Russian Government to close a number of tourist-and-recreational SEZ. In particular, resolutions of the Russian Government No. 978 dated September 28, 2016 and No. 980 dated September 29, 2016 abolished special economic zones in the Stavropol territory, the Krasnodar territory, the Republic of Adygea, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, and a part of SEZ in Kabardino-Balkaria in Chereksky and Chegemsky districts. 

‘The Russian Government anticipatory liquidated several special economic zones, that are attributed to the second stage of the project (i.e. after 2020) according to the development strategy of JSC NCR. This decision is driven by the need for a stepwise approach to the development of all-season resorts, taking into account their tourist potential and existing restrictive factors,’ Lev Kuznetsov noted. The territories excluded from the SEZ will be used to implement industrial, agricultural and other projects in the regions in case of necessity. 

Joint-Stock Company North Caucasus Resorts will continue active development of the first-stage sites of the project — Arkhyz, Elbrus and Veduchi resorts, that will be a drive of alpine tourism in NCFD. ‘The issue of financing these projects has already been discussed in the Russian Government,’ the Minister of the North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation underlined, and he also added that Matlas ATRC in Dagestan and Armkhi and Tsori ATRC in Ingushetia would continue to develop with the support of major anchor investors. 

Oleg Gorchev, JSC NCR Director General, confirmed that these tourist-and-recreational SEZ would become priority sites for the company grounds within the next stage of the project. ‘We have some experience in interaction with an anchor investor that has been working at the site before JSC NCR joined the project. This is Sinara Group that made the first steps in the development of Arkhyz ATRC — a mature ski resort. A similar approach is shown by Matlas and Resorts of Ingushetia companies. Now they are actually proactive: they are the leaders in undertaking the creation of commercial infrastructure, awaiting not even an incentive from the State, but only some support in the future. This support will be required when the federal budget includes the funding for the SEZ development,’ the Director General of JSC NCR said. 

Lev Kuznetsov, Minister of the North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation, noticed that the tourism cluster project remains strategically significant to Russia. ‘In terms of the record growth of domestic tourism and close attention of the government to the development of tourism in Russia, we allow the possibility of project expansion in the future. Financial opportunities for this will be partly generated by the tourism sector of the Northern Caucasus itself. Now this is a long-term but already quite a real issue,’ Lev Kuznetsov concluded. According to the Minister the priority development zones will become the territories where key restrictive issues with the abolished SEZ will be resolved.