On November 19 at a session of Tatarstan Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism on developing tourism and hospitality industry Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov said that Tatarstan has opportunities for developing its own tourism industry.

At first participants of the meeting paid tribute to the memory of people who died in the plane crash in Kazan. Then, Tatarstan Minister of Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism Rafis Burganov presented the main report. He informed that in 2010-2012 the increase in the number of tourists made 14.8 per cent. For 9 months of 2013 total number of tourists increased by 19 per cent. Tatarstan is ahead of other Russian region by the number of tourist arrivals.

Currently there are 600 tourist companies working in the republic.

According to Rafis Burganov, the ministry developed a sub-programme “Development of tourism and hospitality industry in Tatarstan for 2014-2020” under the state programme “Development of physical culture, sport, tourism and increase of efficiency of youth policy realization for 2014-2020”.

The sub-programme aims to increase competitiveness of regional tourism industry at Russian and international tourism markets. To realize this task successfully, creation of a powerful tourism brand is required, the minister underlined. As a result of this sub-programme implementation, the increase in domestic and inbound tourist flow up to 2 mln 250 thousand people and the volume of paid services up to 12 bln rubles is expected.

Kohl&Partner Head of Business Area „International Projects” Christopher Hinteregger told about the strategy of Tatarstan presentation and domestic and international tourism markets.

Director of Tatarstan Centre of tourism development Oksana Sargina told about centre’s tasks and mission.

Head of the Department of state tourism projects and tourism safety of the Federal tourism agency Aleksandr Sirchenko expressed condolences to relatives of people died in the plane crash in Kazan.

Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov said that summer Universiade made Kazan became more recognizable. He reminded that much work is being done on developing tourist attractiveness in Bolgar, Sviyazhsk, and the Kazan Kremlin under the auspices of State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev.

The Prime Minister also noted that staff training for tourism infrastructure is an important issue.