Moscow has hosted a general meeting of the Skiing Industry Union members, a non-profit organization that brings together professionals in the field of design, construction and operation of ski resorts. As part of the Union modernization which involves the Joint-Stock Company Northern Caucasus Resorts, it has been approved a new edition of the Constitution, elected the Board, approved the work plan for the 2016/2017 biennium.

As one of the Skiing Industry Union founders, the General Director of the sports complex "KANT" Grigoryi Arievich noted, the most effective ski centers development can be obtained in close cooperation with government agencies at all levels. "I hope that, with the assistance of the Company Northern Caucasus Resorts experience, we will be able to solve the most important challenges currently facing the Union. This, including an accelerated introduction of new ski centers and increasing the capacity of already operating facilities, the need for the development of domestic production for the ski centers equipments, the promotion of winter sports in the children and youth community, and a number of other issues," he explained.

The Skiing Industry Union was established in 2006 with the purpose of an active development of the domestic ski tourism market segment. During its work, sites for industry players exchange of experience were created with the leading position among them taken by the Congress of winter sports, tourism and active recreation industry; the main development directions of winter sports and tourism in Russia were determined, an expert community was formed.

The activities of the modernized Skiing Industry Union, according to its new Executive Director, the representative of the Northern Caucasus Resorts JSC Vladislav Subbotin, will focus on solving practical problems within the framework of the industry integrated development. "Our company has accumulated a vast experience, from design and construction of ski resorts to their marketing promotion in the domestic and foreign markets, in attracting investors and staff training to work at the new resorts. On our own practice, we know those "bottlenecks" that hinder the domestic ski tourism segment to develop successfully," he said. It is referred to improve the legal framework and to create the conditions for a stable work of investors, operators and manufacturers, to promote skiing as a sport and tourism, to develop educational programs for children and adults, to lay down uniform rules for a safe operation of ski resorts in Russia.

"The most important goal posts of the Union activities for us, in the final analysis, will be an increase of the Russian ski resorts operating efficiency and an increase in the number of tourists on the ski slopes. It is these factors that will reflect the industry attractiveness and, therefore, the benefit from our work. According to expert estimates, at present, only 2.5% of Russians are able to go alpine skiing. It is in our power to increase this figure over the next 10 years at least three times. Today we start a great job and we invite all market participants to join and contribute to the Russia skiing industry development," concluded Vladislav Subbotin.