But for this, more than 100 billion rubles are needed for the Kislovodsk-Adler road
Russian officials are looking for an alternative to Courchevel, which is now inaccessible to them: at a meeting with the participation of Mikhail Mishustin in Mineralnye Vody, a project was actively discussed to unite three ski resorts — Krasnaya Polyana, Arkhyz and Lagonaki. The cluster will have 550 km of ski slopes, which, as the prime minister was told, is comparable to the famous French resort of Three Valleys, where there are 600 km of them. But there is one catch: in order to really feel like in France, we need one more airport, a road through the Greater Caucasus Range and a railway line from Kislovodsk to Adler.
Mikhail Mishustin with North Caucasian ducks.
The working day of the head of government in the North Caucasus began with a visit to the first investment exhibition in the history of the North Caucasus Federal District. Previously, the Caucasus and investments were considered incompatible concepts. All regions were deeply subsidized, and even with a high share of the shadow economy. Legalization, especially of small businesses, is still not easy. But certain achievements, and most importantly, «breakthrough» investment projects, the results of which can be demonstrated to the premiere, nevertheless appeared. The most touching result, which made Mishustin break into a smile, is yellow ducklings as a symbol of priority agriculture for the North Caucasus Federal District. Local businesses grow meat and poultry, as well as establish intensive orchards that allow for double and even triple harvests. In addition to yellow ducklings, the prime minister was shown yellow pears (which, by the way, are quite comparable in size to ducklings) — so delicious that it was impossible not to approach them. «Didn't try?» Mishustin asked and pulled his hand away with obvious regret: he wanted to bite off, but the protocol did not allow. In general, the Caucasus ranks first in the Russian Federation in picking berries and fruits, second in nuts and grapes, and third in greenhouse vegetables.
The governor of the Stavropol Territory, with some embarrassment, demonstrated products that somehow you would not expect to find in the Caucasus — his own monitors, mice and keyboards. “The component base is only 50% Russian,” he honestly admitted. «Do not be shy! Mishustin encouraged. — You have to start small. The main thing is to do it well.” And separately praised the keyboard: «It looks very nice.» The head of Dagestan, showing the achievements of the republic, reminded the prime minister that 2023 had been declared the Year of Rasul Gamzatov. “There is an idea to republish a collection of his aphorisms. (…) In terms of humor and content, they are very interesting and correspond to today. I will definitely pass on our news to you!” — said the governor and gave an example. When Gamzatov was a deputy of the Supreme Council, he wrote a note to his wife with the following content: «I have been sitting on the presidium for five years, but there is no happiness.» “It will be possible to use it during government meetings,” Mishustin supported, laughing.
In addition to agriculture, all regions of the NCFD rely on tourism. Someone was more fortunate, someone a little less, but God did not offend anyone with natural attractions and opportunities for both active and passive recreation. “We need an infrastructure that will ensure the development of not only the usual types of recreation here – I mean sanatorium and ski tourism – but also the conditions for all-season beach and ecological tourism,” the prime minister said at a meeting after visiting the exhibition.
The government has already invested 23 billion rubles. in the infrastructure support of the Arkhyz ski resort, which was recently sold to a private investor for a comparable amount. The proceeds from the sale are planned to be invested in other tourist sites in the North Caucasus Federal District, but the prime minister expressed the wish that the business join the state as soon as possible. The most ambitious project in the field of tourism at the meeting was named the ski cluster, which unites Krasnaya Polyana, Arkhyz and Lagonaki. Of these, Arkhyz, due to the high altitudes that do not require the use of artificial snow cannons, is assigned the role of the “Russian Courchevel”. And together, the three resorts, according to the ex-head of the Kuban, Alexander Tkachev, will be able to become an alternative to the «Three Valleys» — the once favorite vacation spot of Russian bohemia. “This is a landmark project that will change the picture of the world,” Tkachev emphasized, noting that his grandchildren will thank him for its implementation.
He urged to start building the road from Kislovodsk to Adler as soon as possible, without which these plans will not come true. However, the cost of its construction is 92 billion rubles. — for some reason indicated in the prices of 2021. The representative of the Ministry of Transport specified that the current restrictions are unlikely to allow the construction of the route to begin before 2027, and its price, obviously, will be significantly higher than announced. Especially if the road will be built along with the railway line. In addition, to turn Arkhyz into a full-fledged Courchevel, a new international airport in Cherkessk is needed, which will also require large investments.