Rustam Minnikhanov proposes establishing a line ministry for tourism development in Russia

On October 4, at the Kazan City Hall, speaking at a meeting of the Council under Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District on the development of internal and incoming tourism chaired by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, who is a Сo-Сhairman of the Council working group, proposed establishing a line ministry for tourism development in Russia.

Minnikhanov said that in accordance with the Decree of Russian President, the responsibility for the implementation of State policy in tourism was transferred from the Ministry of Culture to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. “This is an important step that emphasizes a systematic understanding of tourism as a branch of the economy at the state level. We think that following the example of many developed countries there is a need to establish separate authority - the ministry for tourism development,” Tatarstan President said. 

He also said that there is a wide range in the levels and authorities of the bodies that implement the functions of state administration in tourism in the regions of the Volga Federal District. Independent special authorities in this industry were established only in two regions: in Tatarstan and the Saratov region. In other entities, tourism development is implemented by multisectoral ministries and subordinate agencies, neighbour to such areas as youth policy, sports, culture, entrepreneurship and the economy.

“We should understand that today tourism is a promising area for the economic development of our regions, having great potential and requiring the investment of human and financial resources,” Minnikhanov addressed the meeting.

He added that in September this year, the Strategy for the Development of Tourism in the Russian Federation until 2035 was approved. Currently regional programmes and sectoral strategic planning documents have been adopted in the entities of the Volga Federal District.