New resort in Abkhazia

Image removed.Sukhumi. Photo (c) "Liberali"

The flow of tourists so much expected in Abkhazia is nowhere to be seen. They said in the tourism department that people just preferred watching the World Cup at home and as soon as Mundiale finished thousands of people would head to the Abkhazian seaside. They wanted it so much to repeat the record of 2007 when almost one million people spent holidays in Abkhazia.

The majority of tourists come to Abkhazia to enjoy the seaside and get suntan. However, in 2007, for example, the goal of the one-day excursion of about 200 thousand tourists was to visit the New Atoni cave, the Ritsa Lake, and Arabika and Snezhnaya grottos.

Soon one more sight will be added to the number of those beautiful places. The Kodori Gorge is the place where Abkhazian government plans serious development of tourism. Today it is closed for tourists for security reasons; however, it is undoubtful that in the future the gorge will turn into one of the most attractive tourist destinations. "As soon as relevant agencies stricten security measures there, we will offer special routes to the holiday-makers. We are already working on that," Vyacheslav Bartsits, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Resorts said.

According to the plan, unique national park will be made in the Kodori Gorge. The military road connecting Karachai-Cherkezya with Kodori will be restored. "This project is under serious discussion; we have support from the Russian Federation side. We will start discussing specific details soon," Prime Minister Shamba said.

However, in Abkhazia they worry more about how the resort season goes, which has always been hoped for, than future plans.

In August 2008, Russia's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia should have opened new opportunities for the country's resort development, but until now the holiday-makers are still attracted to the clean sea and rich nature in Abkhazia. Expectations that this year the 2007 record will repeat in Abkhazia and up to one million tourists will come are exaggerated.

The main condition of tourism business development - level of service in food and trade sites, is still as low as before. Deputy Minister of Tourism and Resorts Vyacheslav Bartsits said many complaints are registered from tourists every year. "They often do not like low professionalism of the personnel, service, cleanness of the city's streets, beaches, and quality of food products, there are complaints on driving transport," he explained.

This is why experts say the flow of tourists in 2007 had the counter effect: the republic's insufficient infrastructure did not prove ready to accept such a big number of tourists and the quality of service dropped significantly, many tourists left the country discontented.

This year the state has taken certain steps to bring Abkhazia close to modern resort standards, but it is not enough. Two-three years ago spending holidays in Abkhazia was exotic, as it was a return to the Soviet Union in a way. Today pansionates of the Stalin period, dining places where they treated macaroni soup, stewed cabbage and dried apple compotes has been long stored in the past.

"Our friend Russia is helping us stand on our feet; all through the year exhibition-fairs were held in Russia where people were introduced to Abkhazian nature and culture," Bartsits says.

The main capital of Abkhazian resorts is Russian tourists. Investments in tourism are mainly Russian as well. Compared to Sochi and other resorts of the Krasnodar area, Abkhazia attracts Russian tourists mostly with cheaper sanatoria. Besides, after the 2008 recognition, spending holidays in Abkhazia has become safer as Russian military bases are deployed on the territory of the republic.

The Abkhazian government is trying to implement some changes in order to make holidays in Abkhazia more attractive to Russian tourists; however, on the background of common economic crisis not much is changed. For example, in the end of April, Baghapsh ordered the law enforcers not to stop cars with Russian numbers without any serious reason, even though considerable amount gathered in the pockets of Abkhazian law enforcers during the resort season.

One of the hindering points for tourists is crossing the Russian-Abkhazian border control checkpoint "Vesioloe Psou" (Joyful Psou). Last year during the full season tourists had to stand 3-5 hours in the queue. Problems occur mostly on the Russian side and solving them is the Russian side's responsibility. As Prime Minister Sergey Shamba says, negotiations are underway on simplifying the border crossing regime.

During the present season, the commencement of Sochi-Adleri-Gagra fast train exploitation is also planned. The negotiations are being held on regulating sea-movement with Russia. The important fact which greatly stimulates active flow of tourists in Abkhazia is restoration of avia-relations with Russia - for this purpose the festive opening of Sokhumi airport is planned in July.

At the end of July, the State Committee for Abkhazian health resorts and Tourism will end the work for creating GPS format navigation map. The map will significantly ease the conditions of traveling in Abkhazia. All tourists who have GPS navigator or a special programme on their mobile phones will be able to use the free map.

The private sector is developing better. It gathers solid amount during the tourist season though it does not share the profit with the state. This fact has caused strictening the tax exemption from the tourist firms. "Everybody rents a flat in blocks though nobody pays taxes. People should get accustomed to the fact that as they receive tourists and get profit from it, they must pay the income tax to the state," - states Vakhtang Pipia, Minister of Tax and Duties.

The price per bed in Gagra is 200-250 Roubles, in Bichvinta - 500 Roubles. Last year the private sectore paid 300 Rubles per bed in a month. In 2009, the state treasury received 5.5 million Roubles. This year the tax has been doubled and comprises 600 Roubles.

The best season for relaxing on the shores of Abkhazia is August-September-October. June-July is a period when everybody in big houses and hotels is preparing for the coming season. Some have to whitewash the house façade, others have to repair the hot-water tank and air the linen in anticipation of their guests. Much depends on these three months.
Tourist industry is the only segment which fills the Abkhazian state budget internally. For the majority of population, the summer is a period when they earn the money to last them for the whole year.

The terminology used in the article belongs to the author only and not to “The Liberal”

The article has been prepared with the support of Heinrich Boell Foundation. The views and opinions expressed in the publication do not necessarily reflect those of Heinrich Boell Foundation.