Dmitry Makarov
Director of the Investment Agency of the Primorsky Territory
Dmitry Makarov, Director of the Investment Agency of the Primorsky Territory (Primorye), shared his views with the EcoTourism Expert on the projects aimed at developing the tourism sector in the region.
- The national project Tourism and Hospitality Industry is aimed at a significant increase in travelling in Russia by 2030. At the same time, the tourist flow in the Primorye still leaves much to be desired... What is planned to be done to attract tourists to the Primorsky Territory?
The richest recreational potential of the Primorye is underestimated. However, active work is already underway in the infrastructure, and many roads, hotels, sports and leisure facilities are under construction as well as those for outdoor activities. Recently, the Primorye received additional funds from the federal budget for the development of tourism and the improvement of recreation areas. For example, financing the new project Improving the Availability of Tourism Products to be implemented in the region under the national project Tourism and Hospitality Industry will amount to about 26 mn roubles. With the participation of regional and local authorities, the accelerated possibility of implementing several priority projects is being worked out, and relevant applications are being prepared.
The construction of transport and engineering infrastructure facilities is among the most important projects, including highways, local treatment facilities, water supply and sanitation systems in the area of the tourism and recreational cluster Primorye in Muravyinaya Bay.
All these measures will facilitate the implementation of the investment projects in the Primorye cluster whose residents have already received tax benefits and additional state support.
- An Investment Map of the Primorsky Territory has recently appeared on your agency’s website. What promising tourism projects are worth paying attention to?
First of all, I would like to say that this map was developed for the investors’ convenience and includes the information about all investment sites in the Primorsky Territory. Many projects, one way or another connected with the development of tourism, are among them.
A golf park and the Primorye all-season resort, as well as the recreation centre Southern Reef in the village of Yuzhno-Morskoy are among the major projects where tourists can enjoy beautiful views, as well as go boating and fishing. Not far from the village, there is a reserve inhabited by rare marine mammals, which makes this place even more attractive to tourists, including the ecotourists.
- In addition to the sea and taiga, beautiful mountains are in the Primorsky Territory. What tourism facilities already exist in the mountainous part of the region and what is planned to be built in the future?
- Thirty minutes away from Vladivostok, the Blue Sopka Centre operates. The infrastructure for winter sports has been created there, including 4 kilometres of ski trails of various difficulty levels have been developed, 3 chairlifts have been installed, and the slopes are equipped with an artificial snow-making system. Several trekking routes and organized recreational areas have been made and a project concept has been developed with a phased plan for the creation of tourism and sports facilities for a year-round operation.
Another mountain ski resort is planned to be set up on the basis of the Belaya Gora (White Mountain) Regional School of the Olympic Reserve on the principles of public-private partnership using concession mechanisms. The investment project cost is more than 9 bn roubles of capital investments, 6.7 bn roubles of which will be raised through infrastructure bonds. The ‘road map’ provides for the construction of chair lifts with a capacity of 2,400 people per hour, the arrangement of new skiing tracks with a total area of over 5.500 sq. km, as well as the installation of up-to-date snow-making, lighting and security systems.
The final touch for a comfortable stay for tourists will be the reconstructed sports centre Salyut at the foot of Mount Obzornaya. According to preliminary estimates, in the first year of operation, the mountain ski resort will provide up to 70,000 ski person-days, and the arrangement of an additional 18 kilometres of skiing runs to the existing 11 ones will bring the Belaya Gora to the fourth place among the Russian mountain ski resorts in terms of the length of skiing tracks.
- I noticed that the reverse side of your business card is not in English, but in Chinese. Has the investment vector finally changed?
- It is not surprising for our region. We traditionally cooperate very closely with our Chinese colleagues. Over the years, our contacts have grown significantly and became more active. Many projects in the tourism sector, including the Primorsky Ring project, are focused not only on domestic demand but also on residents of the dynamically developing countries of the Asia-Pacific Region and the People’s Republic of China. And the interest in the development of multilateral contacts - economic, investment, tourism ones - is mutual.
Due to the Covid pandemic, some projects, unfortunately, had to be temporarily suspended. Now, all the processes of cooperation are being actively resumed. In mid-June, for example, a representative delegation from the Primorsky Territory will take part in the Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair, a large international event with the participation of more than 20 countries. Among other things, tourism and investment projects of the Primorye will be presented at the exhibition. I am sure that the Russians and foreign guests of the region will be able to appreciate the recreational potential of the Primorye very soon.
