Sanatorium-Court complex of Anapa met with Veniamin Kondratyev
In the picturesque resort town of Anapa, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, the tourism industry is navigating through challenging times. A recent Black Sea oil spill has disrupted travel, local economy, and businesses dependent on tourism, affecting the quality of beaches and deterring visitors [5].
To counteract these adversities, the regional and federal government are implementing support measures to stabilise and boost the tourism sector. One such initiative involves financial assistance for infrastructure and employment preservation in the transport and airport sectors linked to Anapa. The Russian government has allocated approximately 27 billion roubles to compensate airports, including Anapa’s, for losses due to temporary flight restrictions. This funding helps pay wages and maintain skilled personnel in the transport sector, ensuring continued access and service reliability for tourists [2].
Another effort to rejuvenate tourism involves promoting Anapa as a 2025 holiday destination. This strategy emphasises cultural experiences, beach activities, and travel guidance aimed at attracting visitors [1]. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to recover from disruptions and sustain the local tourism economy.
The support measures extend beyond financial assistance. Deferrals of tax and insurance payments, subsidies, and preferential lending are also being provided to organisations in the region. The Microfinance Fund, for instance, has offered over 80 million roubles in preferential loans to support local organisations [4]. These loans have been utilised for wage payments, rent, utilities, repairs, swimming pools, and recreation areas.
It is worth noting that research findings indicate that sand and seawater in Anapa do not meet sanitary standards [3]. In response, a large-scale information campaign is underway to combat misinformation about the state of beaches and the sea in Anapa and other resorts in the region.
Despite these efforts, the current situation remains challenging. Maria Potemkina, the head of Rospotrebnadzor in Krasnodar Krai, reports that specialists are analysing the condition of 141 beaches in Anapa. However, it is impossible to guarantee that beaches in Anapa will be open in August or September [6]. The average occupancy rate in Anapa is around 30%, with currently less than 24,000 tourists in the town, a significant drop from around 100,000 last year [7].
In the face of these difficulties, Alexander Ruppeel, referring to the current situation, stated that businesses are adopting a wait-and-see approach and are counting on support measures at the federal and regional levels [8]. Despite the economic downturn, the number of small and medium-sized businesses in Anapa has increased by 4.6% since the beginning of the year, reaching 13,800 [9].
In summary, while Anapa’s tourism sector faces environmental and operational challenges, ongoing government funding and promotional efforts aim to support industry recovery and sustainability. The efforts include financial assistance for airport compensation and infrastructure, preservation of skilled labor in transport and tourism sectors, and promotion of Anapa as a holiday destination. Additionally, support measures such as deferrals of tax and insurance payments, subsidies, and preferential lending are being provided to organisations in the region. Despite the current challenges, the resilience of Anapa's tourism industry remains evident.
| Challenges | Support Measures | |---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Black Sea oil spill disrupting beaches and local businesses[5] | Government funding for airport compensation and infrastructure[2]| | Travel restrictions affecting transport and access[2] | Preservation of skilled labor in transport and tourism sectors[2]| | Economic downturn in tourism-reliant economy[5] | Promotion of Anapa tourism with cultural and recreational activities[1]| | Research findings indicating sand and seawater do not meet sanitary standards[3] | Large-scale information campaign to combat misinformation[6]| | Significant drop in tourist numbers[7] | Deferrals of tax and insurance payments, subsidies, and preferential lending[4]|
The regional and federal government are providing financial assistance to boost the tourism sector, with approximately 27 billion roubles allocated for airport loss compensation and infrastructure improvements in Anapa [2]. Additionally, the Microfinance Fund has offered preferential loans to support local organisations for operational costs and facility repairs [4].
