(Source: http://vedkar.ru/ekonomika)

Dynamics of tourist traffic in the Republic of Karelia in May and June of this year has demonstrated significant growth contrary to the fears of the tour operators, deputy chairman of the State Committee for Tourism of the Republic Vladimir Gromov told the Tourbusiness reporter.

Virtually all companies operating in the tourist reception in Karelia record an increase in visitors flow in 2015 by 10-15%. Geographical position of the republic has an impact: for example, up to 90% of the tourist flow to the Solovetsky Islands pass through Karelia. To serve the growing volume of visits, every year 40-50 projects of tourist infrastructure are under construction or renovation.

Currently, the agenda includes the creation of a tourism cluster "South Karelia", the formation of which has already begun: an agreement on joining the project was signed by about twenty entrepreneurs. Some objects were built and one was put into operation: the "Ladoga Estate" premium tourist complex, which opened in July of this year on the shores of the lake of the same name.

The total volume of expected investments in the "South Karelia" is about 6.5 billion rubles. Due to this cluster, which will require the creation of a very complex infrastructure – not just roads and power lines, but also the coastal fortifications and channels for passenger ships – the management of the Karelian tourism industry expects entering the federal target program for the development of domestic and inbound tourism. Relevant proposals are prepared and should be considered in the current year.

The strategic objective is to involve in the economy the whole tourism potential of the Republic of Karelia. Karelia has something to be proud of: in the result of the voting completed in the spring of 2014, the Republic took first place in "The best place for outdoor activities" and "Best place for winter holidays" nominations of one of the most prestigious tourism awards in Russia: "Zvezda Travel.ru".

A year earlier, Kizhi Island, with its wooden church of the Transfiguration was selected as one of the ten visual symbol of Russia in a nationwide vote. Nevertheless, the work on the creation of new tourist products continues: according to experts, in Karelia there are about 4.5 thousand display sites but no more than third of them are actively used. So, it is planned to create a second, underground horizon of the Ruskeala mountain park, which now accepts up to 70 thousand people annually.

There is a project to create the Tulmozero ore park on the territory of the first ironworks. Tourist sites will be actively promoted in the north of Karelia, especially the under-ice diving center on the White Sea: there are quite a few of this kind around the globe.