One hundred billion investments in two years: the national project "Tourism and Hospitality Industry" was discussed at the RUSSIA EXPO

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Over the period of 2018-2022, federal budget investments in the tourism sector have grown 18 times. More than 100 projects worth more than 300 billion rubles have been applied for preferential lending programs of the Ministry of Economic Development. At the meeting of the Government Commission for Tourism Development at the RUSSIA EXPO, the results of the tourism industry for 2023 were summarized and plans for 2024 were discussed.

"By the decision of the President, the national project "Tourism and Hospitality Industry" has been implemented since 2021. Under this national project, the tourism industry has received unprecedented funding and conditions for development. If in 2018 3.7 billion rubles were allocated for tourism from the federal budget, in 2022 it was already 67.7 billion rubles. This is an eighteen-fold increase. In 2023 and 2024, the total amount of funding will be about 100 billion rubles. Thanks to the implementation of the national project measures, the number of trips of our citizens across the country is growing. According to the results of 2023, we will tentatively reach 78 million tourist trips - more than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. By 2030, the goal is to increase this figure to 140 million trips per year. I am sure that together we will be able to achieve this," said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov emphasized that with the increase in the number of tourist trips the business income grows. For example, hotels have increased their income by more than 20% for 12 months. Increasing the number of rooms is one of the priority areas, on which, among other things, support measures are concentrated. One of the key programs is the soft loan program.

"On December 1, we launched the 3rd stage of the Program of preferential lending for large hotels. We expanded support for the creation of year-round amusement parks, water parks, ski resorts. Already now the Ministry of Economic Development has received more than 100 projects with a loan portfolio of 318 billion rubles. Out of them, 93 projects are hotels for 21 thousand rooms, 8 projects are ski infrastructure, and 7 projects are water parks," Maxim Reshetnikov said.

Heads of regions spoke about the development of tourism in their territories and shared their plans. During the meeting the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Gleb Nikitin reported on the realization of the "Lessons with Travel" joint project with the Volgograd region. He noted that the project is timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. It involves all 10th grade pupils of Nizhny Novgorod schools and their Volgograd peers.

"This is an educational process of a new format: conducting lessons, primarily on the history of Russia, during a tourist trip. In the current academic year, we are implementing the project jointly with the Volgograd region and Russian Railways through the places associated with the Battle of Stalingrad and the people's militia led by Minin and Pozharsky. Next school year it will be dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the lifting of the blockade of Leningrad. Nizhny Novgorod schoolchildren will be able to visit St. Petersburg," said Gleb Nikitin.

Deputy Prime Minister noted this initiative, urging the heads of subjects to scale it up.

"All regions should take note of the experience of the Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd regions in creating end-to-end interregional routes. Cross development of tourism is important from the point of view of popularization of history and culture of our country. Children get vivid impressions and knowledge within the framework of such initiatives. I suggest scaling up this experience," said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The Government Commission also considered issues related to support measures for the industry, in particular, the program of subsidizing the construction of modular hotels. Following the results of the meeting, Dmitry Chernyshenko instructed to work out the issue and prepare proposals on the procedure and criteria for selection of projects to create modular hotels in 2024 with construction dates in 2025-2026. The subjects were recommended to send to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation a plan-schedule of commissioning of such accommodation facilities for the current year, as well as a list of activities planned for implementation within the framework of a single subsidy allocated to the regions for tourism.

In addition, the participants of the Government Commission considered the issues of improving the business climate in tourism. As part of this work, the Ministry of Economic Development has been instructed to supplement the "road map" with several measures. In particular, it is planned to introduce the concept of "tourist bus" and ensure the possibility of its movement on dedicated lanes for motor vehicles and free parking.