The main part of the new resorts in the South of Russia visitors will initially be the locals of the North Caucasus federal district – the big, populous region. This was stated by the Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the North Caucasus Federal District Maxim Bystrov, speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘Large resorts of the NCFD - Risks and Opportunities" at the interregional forum ‘How to Make a Reality the Investment Intentions?’, held in Kislovodsk.

Bystrov said that there are a number of well-known travel brands in the region - Dombai, Elbrus, Arkhyz; there are people, who always went there and go now. He added that it is possible to see in Arkhyz cars from different regions of Russia– ‘Belgorod, Voronezh, Moscow, St. Petersburg, our republics’.

At the same time the infrastructure of the region shows its readiness to receive the foreign tourists. ‘Six airports for seven regions - this is our advantage, "- he said.

This opinion was supported by acting Director General of OJSC ‘Northern Caucasus Resorts’ Islam Nazaraliev, who noted that the brand of the North Caucasus ‘exists and has long been present in the minds of Russian citizens, nostalgic former Soviet citizens’. According to estimates of ‘NCR’, Russians will primarily be the main clients of the Northern Caucasus resorts, 20% of which will be the locals of the North Caucasus and their neighbors, said Nazaraliev. He added that it’s widespread world practice – ‘major source of demand in almost all economically stable countries are its citizens’.

But we can’t focus only on the Russians, as the new North Caucasus resorts surely will interest citizens of other countries, is convinced Honorary Consul General of Italy in the North Caucasus and  South Federal Districts Pierpaolo Lodigiani. ‘You absolutely have to focus on foreigners, too," - he stated. Consul cited the example of his personal experience, showing the interest of foreigners to the North Caucasus: there were four German tourists on the peak of Dombai when he climbed there in 1991. Lodigiani also added that he regularly meets in the airport of Mineralnye Vody foreign snowboarders and mountain skiers, including youth, who are interested in climbing up mountain peaks of the Caucasus.