On September 7-8, 2017 IX International Forum “Water Tourism” was held in Saint Petersburg.

About 300 delegates-representatives of the federal and state government bodies, river and sea tourism leading companies, offshore and Russian tour operators and other representatives of the industry took part in the event.   

The key subjects of the forum covered the issues of state policy in the field of water tourism, statutory regulation update and cruise sea ports construction. Besides, the perspectives of the creation of domestic cruise routs, development of the sightseeing and promenade navigation and the provision of passenger navigation security in the whole were discussed.    

Forum participants discussed the project of reconstruction of the cruise line in the Black Sea area which was implemented in order to execute the order of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. “Chernomorskie Kruisy” LLC established by the FSUE “Rosmorport” in 2017 is a cruise line operator.

A comfortable motor vessel “Knyaz Vladimir” was purchased for the establishment of a passenger line. The comfortable and safe cruise liner complies with the international convention provisions and national legislation requirements in the field of safe navigation and human life protection in the sea. The route connects the resorts of the Krasnodarsky Krai and Crimea: Sochi-Novorossiysk-Yalta-Sevastopol. The cruise program offers an exciting excursion program in the visiting cities as well as entertainment and informative events on board.

Knyaz Vladimir had its first cruise voyage on June 11,2017. The sea voyage demand is expected to continue to increase steadily. In September the vessel load is 60% which is a good indication for the first navigation. The existing cruise route is at the same time an alternative and supplementation to the traditional rest in the Black Sea for the Russian tourists. Besides, the cruise is popular among foreign citizens among whom there are tourists from Belorussia and Kazakhstan.

The forum participants emphasized the increasing interest in a new tourism product from the consumers’ side, pointed out a high potential of the development of the routs along the Black Sea coast.