Russian farmers receive right to provide tourism services

The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia has approved the requirements for places in the field of tourism in rural areas.

“According to the decision, agricultural producers received the right to provide services in rural tourism. Including using locations in rural areas,” said Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia.

The places of tourist accommodation in rural areas should be provided with hot and cold water supply, the document says. It is necessary to provide a minimum water supply for at least a day in areas with water interruptions. A mandatory requirement is the presence of the free provision of drinking water.

In addition, the locations should be equipped with artificial lighting both in the room and outside the building, including emergency, heating, and ventilation system.

The Ministry of Economic Development has developed the recommended requirements for public sanitary facilities, the minimum area of the premises for tourists living, and housing equipment, including the size and configuration of sleeping places.

“Given the growing interest from tourists in rural tourism, preparing this requirement is an extremely timely step. Often, it is not enough to understand the beautiful and interesting from a tourist point of view - what and how to do to ensure real safe hospitality,” commented the Executive Director of ATOR Maya Lomidze.

“It is good that clear requirements appear, which are significantly easier than hotel requirements. But since we are talking about rural tourism, it is more important to bring to approve a bill on the possibility and rules of building places of accommodation and infrastructure of hospitality on agricultural lands,” commented the vice-president of the Russian State Lawhouse Alexei Musakin.

Author: Azat Gizzatullin