Republic of Altai presents its tourism and recreation special economic zone

The presentation of the economic and investment potential of the republic of Altai: "Developing the Tourism and Recreation Special Economic Zone "Altai Valley" was held at the Congress Centre of the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event was chaired by RF CCI vice-president Vladimir Strashko.

Aleksandr Berdnikov, Chairman of the republic’s government said: "We have five natural "objects" in Altai,"said Aleksandr Berdnikov, "that UNESCO rates as the world’s heritage, including Lake Teletz, Altai and Katun natural reserves and the unique Belukha Mount. "The principal development direction is tourism and recreation. In 2008 1 mln tourists visited Altai, and we hope to host 2.5 mln tourists by 2020," said Ivan Belekov, Chairman of the State Assembly of the republic of Altai.

Sergei Tevonian, first deputy head of the republic, spoke about the most important tourism and recreation projects planned to be implemented in the near future, for example "Manzherok" Alpine skiing project that will have 32 ski-runs of 60 kilometres total length. The resort is planned to accommodate 12,000 visitors. It will cost 10 billion roubles, out of which 2 billion roubles have already been invested.

An estimated construction cost of the Karakol Lakes tourist complex is 2 billion roubles. Great hopes are pinned on the execution of another construction project, the tourist and recreation SEZ Altai Valley. As Sergei Tevonian noted, investors are wary of two things: inadequate power supply and remoteness of the republic due to its underdeveloped transport. However, the republic has begun getting natural gas from a main pipeline and a cluster of power plants of 70 MWt capacity will be built here. A takeoff and landing strip is under repairs in Gorno-Altaisk, the reconstruction of the airport has been started with 100 mln roubles already invested in the project last year with a new trenche of 230 mln roubles to be earmarked in 2009. A total of 1 billion roubles will be invested in this project and the airport is to start operating in 2010. This will allow to carry 300 000 passengers instead of the current 150 000. 800 mln roubles have already been earmarked for the reconstruction of the famous highway, Vilyui Tract out of the planned total of 18 billion roubles. In five years the construction of a 115-kilometre long connection to the main railway line will be finished. Head of the Federal Agency for the Management of Special Economic Zones Andrei Alpatov said that 9 major investors have already started doing business in the SEZ Altai Valley. They have invested RUR5 billion, about one-fourth of the amount the SEZ needs.

Andrei Alpatov stressed that 7 out of these 9 investors arrived only a short while ago, in the heat of the global crisis. There are plans to create a unique artificial 50-hectare lake with three isles. Taking the long winter seasons in consideration, a large roofed aqua park will also be built along with other facilities. Its area will be 856 ha; the projected investment is to be in excess of RUR20 billion with an expected 2,400 new jobs, 94,000 visitors annually and simultaneous visitor number of 3,500, Information and public relations department of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.