Level – world
RG correspondents come here regularly, each time making sure of the positive dynamics in the development of the city by the sea. On the eve of the high season this can be seen especially clearly. The resort welcomes its guests with clean streets, a clean sea and a host of new entertainment prepared for their arrival. A holiday in Sochi in 2024 means luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and a wonderful embankment with stunning views of the sea, mountains and the city itself. Holidays here are no worse than in the best resorts in the world.
“I truly believe that Sochi is a national treasure,” says Oleg Burlev, first deputy city director of Sochi. – In fact, there really is no other territory where the dense forests characteristic of the middle zone, the never-freezing Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountain Range, which protect the resort from cold winds, would be concentrated in one place. Thanks to the holding of the Olympic Games in 2014 and the subsequent active support of the city by the leaders of the country and the region, it was possible to make Sochi a year-round tourist center. And today we have set ourselves the task not only of securing the city’s status as a major Russian health center, but also of turning it into a world-class tourist center.
From May to October 2024, the city will welcome at least 4.6 million tourists
The positive transformations that the town of Sochi has experienced in recent years are truly impressive, as shown by the figures. These are only some of them. Over the past five years, the dynamics of tourist flow has increased by 17%, 212 billion rubles of investments have been attracted, and this year’s budget revenues have been formed at the level of 57 billion rubles. In the General City Development Plan until 2044, adopted at the end of last year, priority is given to the development of social and tourist infrastructure. Another 624 educational, cultural, sports and medical facilities will be created in Sochi, 1.5 thousand hectares are planned for parks, squares and new landscape areas, embankments will be expanded by another 17 km, and beaches – by 30 km.
The path that everyone waits for
Sochi is literally changing before our eyes, but issues of environmental safety and transport logistics remain no less important for the city, especially in the high summer season. We are asking the mayor’s office what projects are aimed at solving these problems.
“Together with a group of experts, a long-term plan has been drawn up to modernize the community infrastructure of the complex,” explains Oleg Burlev. “Thanks to the implementation of the regional state program, we will be able to increase the capacity of wastewater treatment facilities by 44%, thereby fulfilling the task set by the country’s leaders for the environmental protection of the Black Sea. This year, the construction of one facility and the reconstruction of five are underway, for a total amount of 35 billion rubles. And within the framework of the Program for the comprehensive development of Sochi until 2030, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, financing from various sources in the amount of 138 billion rubles is provided for the design and construction of water supply networks and sanitation in all districts of our city. We have also developed a concept to develop road infrastructure and improve transport logistics until 2040. The state-owned company Avtodor has already started implementing a large-scale project to build a new highway bypassing Adler. As for the bus fleet, it is constantly updated: there are currently 270 natural gas and electric buses online. New gas stations are being built for them.
City authorities ensured that construction projects did not cause inconveniences. New facilities are being built under state programs outside of tourist areas and current planned work on roads, housing and community infrastructure is on hold for the summer. On the federal highway leading to Sochi, the organization of setbacks is ruled out; Employees of the Chernomorye Federal Institution are already completing repairs on three sections in the Ashe and Makopse areas, as well as on the Krasnopolyanskoe highway. To reduce the load on the road network, large companies in Sochi are now switching to the use of corporate transport to deliver their employees, and a seasonal regime for night unloading of goods will begin to operate at consumer companies.
In summer, public transport work will be reinforced; 800 buses of large, medium and small classes will circulate daily on the route lines. During the peak season, the number of trips of the Lastochka electric train in intra-city traffic increases to 77, and as passenger traffic increases, their number will increase.
Visitors to Sochi can already appreciate the new quality of improved public areas. Photo: Press service of the Sochi city administration.
optimistic forecast
According to forecasts, from May to October the city will receive at least 4.6 million tourists and in one year 7.8 million. The authorities consider their main task to be to ensure the safety of local residents and resort guests. At a recent meeting in Sochi, the head of the federal Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, noted that the results obtained in the agency’s laboratory confirm that sea water in the local water zone meets all requirements. By decision of the city’s sanitary and anti-epidemic commission, a set of measures aimed at ensuring health well-being and epidemic safety is expanded during the summer season. The city carries out daily cleaning and treatment of public areas and transport, disinfection of parks, squares, embankments, crowded places, bus stops and underground and surface pedestrian crossings.
The high season in Sochi began in early May. In the Year of the Family, the concept of the season is expressed by the motto #FamilyVSochi. For the first time, the city has prepared its own loyalty system for large families, which concerns the provision of tourist services, including on the beaches. For large families, a 50 percent discount is offered, discounts on cable car services and in Sochi Park, and visits to the arboretum, waterfalls and some museums are free.
For the season, the resort has landscaped 41 km of coastline, not only beaches, but also embankments. Points of sale, information signs, posters and even staff uniforms are designed in the same style.
In May, 60 beach areas have already been opened in Sochi in all districts, and in total there will be 170, including, after reconstruction, the renovated municipal beach “Riviera”, the longest in the city center. Many sanatoriums and hotels have renovated their rooms, medical centers and surroundings.
The opening of eight new accommodation facilities will coincide with the start of the summer holiday season. In the sanatoriums, residents and guests of the resort have access to 4 thousand types of services for the healing and treatment of diseases of all adults and children. Of course, the renovated natural attractions of the Sochi National Park and the Caucasus Nature Reserve, mountain resorts and tourist attractions within the city are preparing to welcome tourists. In total, 165 such facilities will operate in Sochi this summer, including Riviera Park, which has noticeably improved after reconstruction.
City officials hope resort guests will be able to appreciate the new quality of landscaping in public areas.
Sochi’s main mission this season is to contribute in every way to its compatriots enjoying a family vacation filled with vivid emotions and pleasant impressions.
