On April 5, 2018, Deputy Head of the Federal Tourism Agency Nikolai Korolev visited Zavidovo in the Tver Region at the request of Rostourism Head Oleg Safonov. The purpose of the visit was a scheduled on-site inspection of the tourism and recreation cluster. "Verkhnevolzhsky" for compliance with the conditions for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget for the implementation of investment projects within the framework of the Federal Target Program "Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism in the Russian Federation (2011-2018)".
As a reminder, the Zavidovo resort (part of the Verkhnevolzhsky tourism and recreation cluster) is included in the list of federal target program activities. The Zavidovo project is being developed through a public-municipal-private partnership.
The most effective form of government support for the Zavidovo project is considered to be the development of transport infrastructure.
In 2015, a 2-kilometer road to the Radisson Resort, Zavidovo hotel complex was built as part of the federal target program. In 2016, the first stage of road construction (600 meters) to the village of Shosha was completed. This road provides access to the M-10 "Russia" highway. In 2017, as part of the second stage of road construction, an additional 570 meters of road were laid, and the number of traffic lanes increased from two to four.
Utilities were also rebuilt, the roadbed was filled, culverts were installed, and shoulders were reinforced. Tver Region Minister of Tourism Ivan Egorov, representatives of the Tver Region State Institution "Directorate of the Territorial Road Fund of the Tver Region," contractors, and investors also participated in the inspection of the work to ensure compliance with the Federal Targeted Program.
"The project is being implemented according to schedule," emphasized Nikolai Korolev, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism. "The mood is good, and we are confident that the project will be completed and operational by mid-September." Nikolai Korolev noted that this is not the first inspection visit to the Federal Targeted Program: "We have already conducted a series of inspections not only in the Tver Region, but also in the Altai Republic, Krasnodar Krai, and Vologda Region. Our next plans include Novosibirsk and other regions where construction on tourism and recreation clusters is currently being completed. We have 15 such regions this year. After that, we will be able to summarize the final results of the program's implementation as a whole."
Convenient infrastructure and access roads are key to the success of any tourist cluster, notes Ivan Egorov, Minister of Tourism of the Tver Region: "The construction of new roads always leads to an increase in tourist flow. We see that as soon as a new road is built or an old one is repaired, tourist traffic immediately increases. And this, of course, is attractive to tourists. When there is comfort, tourists are ready to return. Therefore, new roads always mean new tourists and repeat tourists."
In 2018, it is planned to commission the 3rd, final section of the road (700 m) and a new bridge with a length of 88.38 linear meters across the Doibitsa River, which will connect the new section with the right bank of the river, where the main tourist attractions are located.
Ivan Egorov emphasized that Zavidovo will participate in the Federal Targeted Program for 2019–2025: "We've already prepared a concept for the entire program implementation period, and we have several key projects." Deputy Head of Rostourism Nikolai Korolev confirmed this possibility: "We are indeed discussing with the Tver Region authorities the possibility of creating a new tourism cluster in Zavidovo. It will specialize in water tourism. Plans include developing river infrastructure—a river port, the creation of tourist attractions such as water parks, and the development of hotel infrastructure."
"The Tver Region has significantly increased its roadwork volume in recent years. In 2015, it was 34 kilometers, and in 2016, 112 kilometers. In 2017, work was completed on 357 kilometers. Our goal is to bring the region's main backbone road network up to standard by 2020," noted Tver Region Governor Igor Rudenya at a regional government meeting in January 2018. Overall, according to the Tver Region government press service, 300 kilometers of roads are planned for repair in 2018, with particular attention being paid to roads leading to tourist and industrial facilities.
Source: trn-news.ru