Russian regions to receive over 28 bln rubles in subsidies to develop tourism - Reshetnikov

MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - Russian regions could receive 28 billion rubles to develop tourism as part of a single subsidy for 2025-2027, Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov said on Tuesday.

"We propose boosting the development of our regional attractions through a single-subsidy mechanism. Some 28.5 billion rubles are envisaged in the framework of pre-approved limits of the national project for the next three-year period. We propose allocating [this money] among regions as early as this year, so the regions can start implementing these measures. The money will be accessible in the first quarter and some of the measures can be carried out now," Reshetnikov said at a meeting on auto-tourism development, which was chaired by President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

It is already possible to select projects for the next three years to build modular hotels and set aside at least 5 billion rubles in annual funding for them, he said.

"We propose that we support hotels and attractions by directing part of the funding in the framework of infrastructural budget loans. And also of the new stage of the program to write off the regions' debts," Reshetnikov said.

There is also an annual shortage of around 3,000 tour coaches, he said. Tour coaches in Russia are imported and have long service life, he said.

"We and the Transport Ministry together propose drafting and approving a program in the next few months to develop our own coach production and include tour coaches in our concessionary leasing program," Reshetnikov said.

Several Russian manufacturers are working to develop a model range of tour coaches, First Deputy Prime Minster Denis Manturov said. They are Sollers , Volgabus and Gaz Group.