Travel companies see no prospects for tourism in Chechnya yet

After President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov announced construction of a mountain-ski resort in the Argun Gorge, the republic's authorities began talking about the tourist attractiveness of the region; however, tourist experts and businessmen are rather sceptical to this idea, thinking that tourists would not come to Chechnya in near future.

In early January, Kadyrov stated that Chechnya can be made one of Russia's tourist centres. He made the conclusion after visiting high-mountainous areas of his republic, where he visited schools, hospitals and checked the condition of roads and bridges.

Tourist industry professionals have somewhat different conclusions to this end. Thus, Oksana Bulakh, sales manager of the Moscow-based company "Alean", engaged in travels to Caucasian resorts, believes that in the foreseeable future tourists will not come to Chechnya for rest.

"The region is too instable. People, our clients, living far from Moscow, say, in the Urals or in Siberia, are very cautious even to a trip to Mineralnye Vody. I think that proximity to hot spots is perceived as dangerous. Even Dombai and pre-Elborus area are thought by many as dangerous. Even Dagestan with its rich natural-recreational resources can't attract many tourists because of a terror threat," said Ms Bulakh. "With all that in mind, I don't think that Chechnya will have a great success as tourist territory. Unless in those who prefer extreme adventures."

"Nobody can guarantee safety to travellers there - neither Chechen authorities nor Russian government. We try not to send people to the areas, where their life can be endangered. Besides, we are focused on 'returnable' clients. It's important for us to have them all back from their rest, and with pleasant memories," the sales manager has added.

Let us note here that earlier the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia voiced recommendation to foreigners to refrain from trips to Chechnya because of the danger of kidnapping.

Political scientist Sergey Markedonov believes that statements about the great tourist future of his republic are made by the Chechen leader just for the sake of his PR campaign.

"No business project can be fully successful in the Caucasus or Chechnya until political climate there becomes favourable. Basically, I see nothing impossible. Chechnya may become a tourist Mecca like Switzerland, Sicily and Spain, which had been, both in medieval and new times, quite restless places of Europe," Mr Markedonov is sure.

See earlier reports: "The Daily Telegraph: to transform Chechnya into resort, they need to catch Doku Umarov," "Khloponin: Northern Caucasus needs programme of cultural development."