8 September 2022
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Tourism is key to the development of the Kuril economy
“This location [the Kuril
Islands – Ed.] is attractive for many. It is a dream for hundreds of thousands
of people living in the Russian Federation and abroad. But they are very hard
to reach. <...> For investors, they are also difficult to reach. But
there are no problems you cannot solve – we have already seen this exemplified by
the rest of the Far East. <...> [The Kuril Islands could develop – Ed.]
gastronomy and ecotourism, and besides, it is possible to develop fish
processing and fishing, waste processing, which is absolutely unnecessary there,”
Nikolay Zapryagaev, General Director, Corporation for the Development of the
Far East and the Arctic.
“Tourism definitely should
be one of primary employers but it yet is not,” Elena Lysenkova, Deputy Head,
Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm).
“As for investments: most of it went
into tourism, which is probably right. It will only be possible to invest in
the Kurils and develop anything with the help of [preferential – Ed.] regimes –
and only tourism will work. Other activities – fishing, fish processing,
exporting products – are dense, tight, the "admission ticket" to the
industry is extremely expensive, so nothing new will happen there,” Konstantin
Korobkov, Chief Executive Officer, “Yuzhno-Kyrilsky Fish Factory” LTD (YKRK).
“We realized what makes
the Kuril Islands so unique: you can visit them for four or five days and see all
[the natural sights – Ed.] In Kamchatka or Sakhalin it would take several
weeks. We believe that the Kuril Islands have huge potential, they fit into our
philosophy and our concept,” Aleksandr Tertychnyy, General Director, Anterra.
PROBLEMS
High cost of travel to the Kurils and lack of tourist infrastructure
“In order for this dream [to
visit the Kurils – Ed.] to come true it has to be attainable. Visiting Kurils,
staying there, getting around – it should cost realistic amounts of money
people are able to pay,” Elena Martynova, Deputy Head, The Federal Service for
State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr).
“Nature does not always
allow us to take full advantage of all the possibilities of the territory, even
if we flew several thousand kilometers. <...> At the same time, it can be
noted that traveling to the Kurils is expensive for many. <...> The
territory has no hotel infrastructure [at all – Ed.] Particularly missing are hotels
with a unique thermal component. Those are a must for a territory where the
land itself is bubbling and breathing, where it lures tourists with its
possibilities and its beauty,” Elena Lysenkova, Deputy Head, Federal Agency for
Tourism (Rosturizm).
“Lack of hotel rooms, lack of eateries
in the Kuril Islands: this should also be taken into account. <...> We
should not forget that 10–12 years ago the Kuril Islands were the border zone.
Partially this regime was loosened. <...> Still, the lack of a pass can
lead to a conflict with the border patrol, which happens from time to time,” Konstantin
Korobkov, Chief Executive Officer, “Yuzhno-Kyrilsky Fish Factory” LTD (YKRK).
SOLUTIONS
Increasing the number of sea routes, creation of new ports, and state support
for investors
“In order for the
investment or operational phase of the project to start, you first need to
bring people to the Kuril Islands. You need to buy equipment, start
construction, choose a land plot, and so on. <...> As for logistics,
especially sea logistics [it is necessary to increase. – Ed.] the number of
voyages, the number of ports. Sea logistics near and in the basin of the Kuril
Islands is quite complicated. We need synergy of business and state instruments,”
Nikolay Zapryagaev, General Director, Corporation for the Development of the
Far East and the Arctic.
“Investment in hotels requires
additional resources, because tourism is the most man-intensive industry. <...>
Rostourism is working on support measures for investors,” Elena Lysenkova,
Deputy Head, Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm).
“Rosreestr creates a tool
to make this land [the Kuril Islands – Ed.] work, and stories about how
beautiful this land is were not limited to just pretty clips. Because the land
needs to be sold and bought,” Elena Martynova, Deputy Head, The Federal Service
for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr).
For more
information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical
System roscongress.org.
18 January 2024
Bahrain Joins Framework Declaration on Conservation of Gyrfalcons
The Kingdom of Bahrain has become the seventh country to join the Declaration of Intent for the Conservation of the Gyrfalcon Population. The document was adopted by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the UAE as part the Falcon Day International Forum, which was first held in Vladivostok during the 8th Eastern Economic Forum. The event was managed by the Roscongress Foundation.
05 March 2024
Mutual integration: Chinese entrepreneurs want to develop business in Russia
Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, and Zhou Liqun, Chairman of the Chinese Entrepreneurs Union in Russia, met in Moscow.
07 March 2024
Moscow discussed promoting the potential of the Republic of Kalmykia for its development
A meeting between Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, and Batu Khasikov, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, was held in Moscow to discuss the implementation of a number of key projects and programmes designed to create a long-term basis for the structural development of the economy of the Republic of Kalmykia and the Caspian region.
