<p>The Russian  Government has instructed to elaborate and submit for consideration before  December 1, 2017 a concept for ski industry development in the Russian  Federation, with particular attention to the import substitution of equipment  for ski resorts. A respective instruction was formulated in Minutes On Measures  for Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism in the Northern Caucasus  Federal District, including the development of resorts in the Northern  Caucasus, following the meeting of the Government Commission on Social and  Economic Development of the Northern Caucasus Federal District dated March 10,  2017 No. 1. Responsible co-developers are the Ministry of Economic Development  of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian  Federation, the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation and the Ministry  of the North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation. <br>
  The idea of  the concept for the ski industry development was discussed by Russian experts  in parallel with active construction of winter resorts in the country,  including the Olympic mountain clusters in Sochi and resorts in the Northern  Caucasus under the management of JSC NCR. In particular, in October, 2016, at  the International Forum Russia – Country of Sports, Ski Industry Union  representatives made a presentation of the results of the Russian ski industry  condition analysis, specifying the major obstacles to its dynamic development.  The problems of the industry include lack of high-quality supply in the ski  tourism market, low level of demand for the services of mountain resorts,  insufficient development of domestic production of ski equipment, gear and  accessories, etc. <br>
  ‘The need  to elaborate the single programming document for the development of the ski  industry was preliminary discussed with relevant ministries and departments,  and the professional community. The instruction of the Government shall bring  the mountain ski and tourism industry development in the country to the highest  level, thereby recognizing its importance for fostering a culture of healthy  lifestyle and upbringing physically healthy young generation. In turn, we will  provide full cooperation in the elaboration of the concept of ski industry  development in the Russian Federation, drawing on the experience of JSC NCR and  other domestic ski resorts — members of the Ski Industry Union, and  professional examination by French Association Cluster Montagne, with which  this month a cooperation agreement was signed’, Vladislav Subbotin, Executive  Director of the Ski Industry Union, said. <br>
  In  addition, the minutes of meeting of the Government Commission on Social and  Economic Development of the North Caucasus Federal District documented a number  of other instructions, aimed at the development of ski tourism, in particular,  and the tourism industry in the North Caucasus, as a whole. This included the  instruction to elaborate a draft strategy for tourism development in the NCFD  until 2025, the decision to grant JSC NCR shareholder rights to the Ministry of  the North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation on behalf of the Russian  Federation. Additional professional training programs shall also be developed  for ski instructor guides, proposals on the introduction of compulsory life and  health insurance of tourists at ski resorts, etc. were prepared. </p>