Duma proposes to remove restrictions for cruise yachting
18 Feb 2010 in the State Duma of the Russian Federation held a round table on the subject "Legal support of navigation in the territorial sea and internal waterways of the Russian Federation of sporting and recreational vessels under foreign flags."
After hearing the reports and presentations made during the "round table" organized by State Duma Committee on transport, the participants in the discussion and consideration of the materials noted:
Rapidly developing world water tourism industry is today a multi-billion dollar turnover. Thus, according to statistics of the International Council of marine industry associations (ICOMIA), every year world industry produces over 750 thousand pleasure boats. The world Park has more than 20 million vessels, of which 17 million are motorized vessels of various types, and 3 million - sailing.
It is obvious that in this field of business in many countries involve hundreds of thousands of people.
In this regard, it should be noted that cruise tourism in the Russian Federation, and particularly water, from the point of view of historical, cultural and natural attractiveness, has very significant potential. Despite the rapid development of water tourism in the world, in Russia it is developing quite actively. This stems from a number of objective reasons, primarily the lack of infrastructure.
This situation gives opportunity to make conclusion that at present the water tourism in Russia is at a very early stage of its development.
Obviously, one of the major problems of this state water development of cruise tourism is the excessive secrecy in the Russian territorial waters, as well as the current border regime, creating obstacles to the navigation of small tourist fleet.
Problems in legal regulation of separate aspects of water tourism are the limiting factor for the development of this segment of the tourist market.
Having considered the presented materials, having heard and discussed the reports and speeches participants of the "round table" recommended and proposed:
The State Duma Committee on transport:
- To approve the legislative initiative of the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on transport Shishkarev Sergei Nikolaevich for the removal of legal restrictions on the navigation of the inland waterways of sporting and recreational vessels under foreign flag by amending part 1 of article 23 of the inland water transport Code of the Russian Federation.
- To intensify the submission of the legislative initiative to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
- To entrust the Expert Council under the State Duma Committee on transport, ryf, and other interested organizations to continue the work on improvement of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the sphere of water tourism development taking into account the views expressed during the work of the "round table", as well as coming from stakeholders, with comments and additions.
- Take control of the implementation of these Recommendations.