Russia Announces Year‑Round Beach Resorts Across Baltic, Black, Caspian, Azov, and Sea of Japan
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko announced at a government tourism meeting that Russia plans to introduce year‑round beach resorts along multiple coasts by 2030. The ambitious program targets the Baltic, Black, Caspian, Azov, and Sea of Japan shores, with a view to boosting seasonal accessibility and overall tourist inflow.
Among the leading locations named were Novaya Anapa and Abrau‑Dyurso on the Black Sea coast, the Crimea cluster including Golden Sands of Russia and Saki, the Caspian coastal region in Dagestan, Kaliningrad with the label Russian Baltic, and Primorsky Krai including Vladivostok and the Khasansky district. A government website described these resorts as priority projects intended to support long‑term growth in domestic travel and regional development.
Chernyshenko noted that these seaside destinations are planned to accommodate at least 10 million visitors each year. An additional resort area is planned around Lake Baikal under a special economic regime already in place. Officials expect the new resorts to add about 44,000 hotel beds and to attract significant investment across the hospitality sector.
The launch of the year‑round sea resorts is positioned to help meet the targets of the national project Tourism and Hospitality Industry. One explicit objective is to raise the number of domestic tourists in Russia to about 140 million by 2030.
Yachting in the Russian Baltic and Primorye
The Kaliningrad regional head, Anton Alikhanov, spoke about the Russian Baltic initiative, which envisions a resort in the Yantarny district and the creation of a chain of Baltic Sea coastal resorts. He highlighted how the region’s natural features will be leveraged for tourism growth, including beaches up to 300 meters wide and spa offerings with hot springs and blue clay.
Primorye Governor Oleg Kozhemyako unveiled plans for a resort spanning more than 150 hectares in the Khasansky District. The project would feature hotels, dining, a fish market, a water park, and entertainment for families. He added that demand from yachting and surfing service providers has risen in the area. The Sea of Japan is seen as a strong platform for yachting, with the potential to evolve into a full seaside resort hub. Kozhemyako also pointed to proximity to the Jilin border, where millions of Chinese residents live without direct sea access, highlighting cross‑border tourism potential.
Tourism Projects in the South
Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratiev reported a surge in tourism investment over the past three years, noting that capital injections have grown dramatically. He cited 44 active projects totaling 418 billion rubles across the region, with several four‑ and five‑star hotels under construction to meet rising demand. The governor believes new accommodations will help stabilize vacation costs for visitors.
In the Zaporozhye region plans are underway for Primorsk, a coastal resort on the Sea of Azov, featuring campsites, hotels, and a landscape park. Work on the Caspian cluster in Dagestan is slated to begin in 2024, according to Kavkaz.RF JSC. Officials also acknowledged that while domestic tourism has remained resilient, rising prices and transport limitations have tempered some travel plans for Russians. Industry observers note a shift toward car travel to coastal destinations, while overall vacation budgets have increased. Analysts from Forbes report a 10–15% rise in average tour prices year over year, with flight costs from Moscow to Sochi up by roughly 29% and to Irkutsk up by about 34%, among other routes. The year has seen households plan about 20% more for annual travel per person, approaching historical highs as measured by VTsIOM.
In sum, the nation is pursuing a multi‑coast growth strategy—expanding year‑round seaside experiences, leveraging regional strengths, and aligning infrastructure with rising domestic demand. The approach emphasizes accessibility, investment, and diversified coastal offerings to attract travelers from across the country and neighboring markets. Citations: official tourism announcements and regional authorities as noted in the respective regional statements and industry analyses.