MOSCOW, 6 March. /TASS/. Tourist flow to the ski resorts of the North Caucasus – “Elbrus”, “Arkhyz” and “Veduchi” – increased by 60% in three years and exceeds 1.3 million people per season. This was announced on Monday by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD), during a meeting of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with deputy prime ministers via video link.
“You approved models for the economic development of the regions, and, as you have already noted, Mikhail Vladimirovich, the locomotives of these economic models are large investment projects, breakthrough projects in various industries. And one of these key industries is tourism, and here the most significant, breakthrough projects in the field of tourism are the ski resorts of the North Caucasus, these are “Arkhyz” in the KChR, “Elbrus” in Kabardino-Balkaria, “Veduchi” in the Chechen Republic, “Mamison” in North Ossetia. I would like to note that over the past three years, the tourist flow to the ski resorts of the North Caucasus increased by 60%, and today it already exceeds 1.3 million people per season,” he said.
Novak noted that the government is consistently engaged in the development of the regions of the North Caucasus, including within the framework of a comprehensive state program implemented by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.
In turn, Mishustin stressed that for the socio-economic development of the North Caucasus, the tourism sector should become a mainstay. “And an impulse for related industries. Here are construction, and trade, and agriculture, and others. The biggest multiplier is the development of tourism. This means that new jobs will appear, the well-being and quality of life of citizens of the entire macro-region will improve,” Mishustin said.
About resorts
Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe (5642 m), popular as a year-round resort, which is located on the southern slopes of the mountain in Kabardino-Balkaria. In 2015, the third stage of the gondola cable car was built at the resort, which became the highest in Europe (3,847 m).
“Arkhyz” is the launching pad of the North Caucasian tourist cluster. The ski season at the Arkhyz resort lasts from December to April. In the winter season, the resort has 27 km of pistes of various difficulty levels.
Veduchi resort was opened in January 2018. On its territory there is a cable car with a length of more than 800 m, as well as a track with a length of about 1 km for beginner skiers. The world’s longest artificial track for year-round skiing is available on the southern slope of the resort. Its length is 960 m, it is located at an altitude of 1.5 thousand m.
