The Russian government plans to invest up to $2bn in the development of yacht tourism in the recently annexed Crimean peninsula, to lure back yachtsmen who voted with their keels, reveales IBI Magazine.

According to state plans, this will take place through the building of up to 15 new marinas in the region’s largest cities by 2020, creating up to 6,000 new jobs in the Black Sea resort which is at the centre of a great cruising ground as YM revealed in the June issue.

After Crimea’s annexation by Russia, interest in yachting in Crimea has significantly declined. This is reflected in a recent report by Vladimir Glinyanik, first vice-president of the Sailing Federation of Sevastopol.

According to Glinyanik, the number of yachts in Sevastopol has declined by three times since the annexation. The majority of yachts went to mainland ports in Ukraine, as well as to Turkey and Greece. This has resulted in massive lay-offs across the industry.

Glinyanik added that in order to improve the current situation in the Crimean yachting industry, the Russian government will have to consider a package of measures aimed at stimulating yachting in the peninsula.

In addition to building the necessary infrastructure, an official spokerperson from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade (the ministry that will be responsible for the development of yachting tourism in Crimea) says other planned measures include an easing of entry procedures for yachts wanting to access Crimea’s seaports, and the elimination of administrative barriers in Crimean and Russian territorial waters.

There are also plans for the popularisation of yacht tourism in Crimea on the global market, which is expected to take place through the promotion of local yacht tourism and the organisation of yachting festivals.

Pic: Courtesy Sebastopol Yacht Rental