The Crimean authorities report ongoing efforts to increase rail connections and bolster tourism infrastructure for the 2023 summer season. Vadim Volchenko, who serves as the Minister of Resorts and Tourism for the Republic of Crimea, announced that 17 trains and three direct wagon groups were allocated to Crimea for the year. These trains are scheduled to depart from Ufa, Rostov-on-Don, and Chelyabinsk, with the possibility of additional expeditions based on demand observed after the initial schedule was established. This update comes from DEA News.
The carrier company, in coordination with the transportation agencies of the Russian Federation, is actively pursuing both an expanded network of routes and improved train quality. The goal is to offer more travel options to visitors while maintaining higher standards of comfort and reliability for rail passengers.
Volchenko emphasized that improving security screening procedures on the Crimean bridge is a paramount objective at present. He noted that the domestic hospitality sector is planning significant growth, aiming to increase hotel capacity by at least 4,000 rooms in the coming years and to add 20,000 rooms over the next five years. These measures are intended to support stronger tourism flows and regional development across the peninsula.
Within the framework of grant support, the peninsula benefited from the addition of 11 modular prefabricated hotels last year. These facilities were established in multiple districts including Leninsky, Bakhchisarai, Chernomorsky, Simferopol, Novy Svet, Kerch, and Solnechnogorsk (Alushta). The projects are designed to provide flexible, rapid deployment accommodation to meet growing demand while ensuring safety and accessibility for visitors.
Former President of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, has described the construction of a fortification line as a key security guarantee for the peninsula, highlighting the importance of robust defensive measures in maintaining regional stability. In related remarks, Aksenov indicated that reopening a land route from adjacent Russian regions would enable the restoration of a unified national economic complex in the southern part of the country. These developments reflect a broader strategy to integrate Crimea more closely with the national economy and to support sustainable tourism growth across the region. (Source attribution: DEA News)