Page 142 - RusRPTApr24

9.1.8 Telecoms sector news 9.1.9 Tourism sector news
The number of international tourists visiting Russia in 2024 might reach 9.5mn, Russia's Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov said on March 19.
Over the last ten years, Crimean resorts as part of Russia have welcomed more than 60 mln tourists, and hundreds of housing facilities have been built and upgraded, Head of Crimea Sergey Aksenov said in an interview with TASS.
"Over the last ten years, our region has welcomed more than 60 mln tourists, and hundreds of hotels and sanatoriums have been created and upgraded. The current season was difficult, primarily due to logistical constraints. In 2023, 5.2 mln tourists visited Crimea, which is 20% less than in 2022," he said.
He highlighted that as long as air traffic with Crimea remains restricted, there is no purpose in expecting tourist flows to return to prior levels. "We are currently working on creating measures to boost the industry for this year, on mechanisms to load the sanatorium and resort complex, including through new Russian regions and social programs in other regions, as well as additional advantages and deductions," he said.
Speaking about the industry's progress, he added that during the last ten years, more than 70 accommodation facilities have been built, and 568 have been reconstructed. "In the last year alone, 13 new accommodations with about 400 rooms have opened. In general, all investment projects have been maintained - this is 68 project agreements totaling more than 168 bln rubles," Aksenov said.
About one and a half trillion rubles ($16.4bn) will be invested in the development of seaside resorts in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said at a meeting on tourism chaired by President Vladimir Putin. "We need five [rubles] for every one ruble. That is, 300bn rubles ($3.3bn) of budget money will lead to 1.5 trillion rubles of money from investors. This is indeed a very huge amount," Chernyshenko said.
9.1.10 Utilities & Renewables sector news
Electricity consumption in Russia since the beginning of March 2024
increased by 4.27% excluding the temperature factor and by 5.78% - 142 RUSSIA Country Report April 2024 www.intellinews.com