The number of tourists vacationing in the Crimea since the beginning of 2019, almost by one third exceeded the similar figures of last year. This was stated by the Minister of the Republic of Resorts and Tourism Vadim Volchenko.

“From the beginning of the year, 356.6 thousand people rested in Crimea, which is 32.3% higher than the same period last year. Then, 269.5 thousand people visited the peninsula, he told RIA Novosti. - It is noteworthy that in the five tourist regions of Crimea the total load of working accommodation facilities exceeds the average level. For example, in Simferopol - 58%, Saki - 55%, Sudak - 51%, Alushta - 45%, Yevpatoria - 42%. ”

Volchenko stressed that 62% of tourists arrived on the peninsula on the Crimean bridge. He noted the high rates of international tourism - more than a million foreigners visited the Crimea in 2018.

“Last year, Crimea was visited by a record number of foreign tourists from 132 countries of the world. This is business tourism, as there are a sufficient number of large international forums in the Crimea, and cultural and educational, given the huge number of attractions located on the peninsula. They are coming from the near abroad, where Ukrainian tourists are leading, and from far abroad - mostly from Germany, ”said Volchenko.

So, according to the official, Ukrainians account for 72% of foreigners, another 10% - Belarusians. The rest are from Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Armenia and other countries. Volchenko pointed out that those who came to rest from Ukraine in 2018 were 17% more than in 2017.

The number of tourists in the Crimea is growing annually, recalled Vladislav Ganzhara, a deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea.

“Every year, since the reunification of the Crimea with Russia, the tourist flow increases. Last year the post-Soviet record for the number of holidaymakers on the peninsula was broken. At the same time, the main role is played by the fact that the Crimea from the island, as it has been for a long time, has become a peninsula, connected to Russia by our bridge crossing. Of course, two objects played a key role in this regard. This is our new Simferopol airport terminal and the Crimean bridge, ”he told RT.

Ganjara is convinced that after the opening of the railway traffic on the Crimean bridge, the tourist flow to the peninsula will increase even more.

“It seems to me that this is not the limit, and the main indicators of the number of people staying on the peninsula are still ahead. The opening of the railway part of the Crimean bridge will make it possible to form a tourist hub with respect to our island, in terms of its availability, both by road and rail, and by air, ”the deputy added.

It is assumed that the railway part of the Crimean bridge will be put into operation in December of this year. At the moment, all railway openings have been installed, connecting the peninsula and the mainland of Russia.

The opening of the movement on the railway part of the Crimean bridge will increase the number of tourists at the expense of tourists, whose budget is limited, said State Duma deputy from the Republic of Crimea Ruslan Balbek.

“The opening of railway traffic on the Crimean Bridge will provide an influx of“ budget tourists ”who are expected in sanatoriums and boarding houses. I would say that this is a long-awaited logistics network for those who cannot afford an airplane or a car, ”he said in a conversation with RT.

  • Reuters
  • © Pavel Rebrov

"The number of beaches has doubled"

In addition, Volchenko noted the development of conditions for recreation. In particular, he spoke about the process of assigning the hotel stars.

“217 accommodation facilities with a capacity of more than 17 thousand rooms have already been classified, including by category: five stars - eight objects, four stars - 38 objects, three stars - 85 objects, two stars - 37 objects, one star - six objects, without stars - 43 objects, ”he said.

Volchenko also said that since 2014 the number of comfortable beaches has doubled on the peninsula.

“Over the past four years, the total investment in the improvement of public beaches amounted to about 760 million rubles. As a result, the number of beaches doubled: from 261 in 2014, to 460 - in 2019, ”the minister added.

The development of the tourist area was the most important in ensuring the growth of tourist flow to the Crimea, convinced the First Vice-Speaker of the State Council of the region Efim Fix.

“The most important thing is the development of the recreation industry as a whole. Crimea is changing, creating comfortable conditions for tourists. Crimea becomes attractive for Russians, tourists from near and far abroad, including Ukraine, ”he said in an interview with RT.

The tourist sphere of the peninsula can now compete with the resorts of Turkey and Egypt, I am convinced Ganzhara.

“The tourism industry is acquiring a completely new format, new facilities are opening up related to recreation infrastructure. Those parts of the peninsula that during the period of being part of Ukraine were not developed at all were developing. Unfortunately, at that time Crimea was aimed at a mass tourist of a completely different level and class. Today, Crimea competes with tourists from Turkey, Egypt and Thailand, ”the deputy added.

Recall, Crimea became part of Russia as a result of a referendum in 2014, in which more than 96% of the population voted for reunification with the Russian Federation.

  • One of the hotels in Alushta
  • globallookpress.com
  • © Server Amzayev / Russian Look

"A record number for all post-Soviet years"

It is worth noting that 2018 was a record year for the peninsula in all post-Soviet years - 6.8 million tourists visited the Crimea. Thus, as noted by the head of the region Sergey Aksyonov, the figure for 2017 was exceeded by 28%.

“The results of the 2018 holiday season have been summed up. Over the past year, 6.8 million tourists rested in the Crimea - a record number in all post-Soviet years. The level of last year was exceeded by 28%, ”he wrote on Instagram.

The previous record was set in 2012 - then 6.1 million people visited Crimea. And the highest rates were recorded back in the USSR - in 1988, the peninsula chose 8.3 million people as a place to rest.

Aksyonov noted that 47% of tourists arrived through the Krymsky Bridge, another 37% - by air. So, in addition to the Crimean bridge, which was launched in May 2018, a new terminal of the Simferopol airport was launched. In addition, the “Tavrida” highway is being built, which will connect the crossing of the Kerch Strait and Sevastopol.