Tourism in Crimea

The beginning of the development of Crimea as a resort dates back to the second half of the 19th century . With the improvement of transport links to residents of the Central Provinces of the Russian Empire, it became easier to get to rest and treatment to the shore of the healing sea . It was during this period that Crimea gained fame as a priority summer vacation destination for the Russian imperial family ^[2] . At the turn of the century, summer residences of exceptional beauty and architectural diversity are being built: cottages, villas and palaces. Many of them have survived to this day, giving a shade of imperial brilliance to the appearance of Crimean cities.

A new, massive stage in the history of Crimean tourism, already in Soviet times, was connected with Lenin’s decrees, and by the 1950s, Crimea was becoming an “all-Union health resort”, hosting hundreds of thousands of tourists. Then on the peninsula several directions of tourism developed at once: hiking , car and cycle tourism , children's rest ( Artek was built in 1925) and climate treatment . In 1988, Crimea was visited by a record number of vacationers - 8.3 million people. From Moscow alone , at the height of the season, 15 Aeroflot flights departed daily to Simferopol .

The collapse of the USSR hit hard on the tourism industry of the peninsula. After 1991, resort specialization changes dramatically: now beach and outdoor activities are preferred to spa treatment. In general, there was a decline in the organized sanatorium-resort, as well as mountain-foothill tourism with an increase in the share of the beach destination in its spontaneous version. Unorganized tourists significantly outnumber vacationers in sanatoriums; the private sector came first, accommodating in some years up to 80% of vacationers. In the conditions of independent Ukraine, Crimea became an object of predominantly domestic tourism (the share of Ukrainian tourists peaked in 2009 and amounted to 74%) ^[3] . In these years, the level of shadowing of the tourism economy of the autonomy increased (and for a long time remained quite high), where the private sector (often not paying taxes ) came first, and structured sanatorium-resort vacations gave way to unlimited beach tourism ^[4] . Thus, a structured sanatorium-resort vacation gave way to unorganized beach tourism, although there was a noticeable differentiation by tourists' countries of origin. Most solvent Russian tourists, for the most part, continued to see Crimea not as an object of beach relaxation, but as the very all-Union health resort in all periods of the year. The tradition of spending holidays in Crimea has remained relevant for a significant part of the population in post-Soviet Russia and Belarus , even taking into account the new political and economic realities of Crimea as part of independent Ukraine ^[2] . At the same time, the quantitatively dominant domestic tourists considered Crimea mainly as an object of beach tourism within walking distance, which partly led to a decline in investment in the sanatorium and resort sector. For the same reason, a peculiar geographical differentiation of tourist flows from two countries has developed: in the post-Soviet period, Russians were more inclined to stay in the South Coast sanatoriums, and Ukrainian citizens preferred more budget options in the private sector in the north-west of the peninsula.

Having begun its restoration in the early 2000s , tourism on the peninsula was reviving in a slightly different quality, influenced by the economic and political realities of independent Ukraine. And by 2009 (6 million vacationers) Crimea could not reach the previous level of tourist flow.

The accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation has led to new changes in the tourism industry of the peninsula ^[4] . In the first season after the accession, Crimea received only about 4.0 million tourists. ^[5] Direct revenues of the tourism industry in 2014 also decreased from approximately 160 to 103 billion rubles. ^[6] In 2015, the situation improved, the peninsula has already received 4.6 million tourists ^[7] However, for only 9 months of 2015, tourism revenues amounted to 108.5 billion rubles ^[8] . In 2016, Crimea already received 5.57 million tourists ^[9] , which fully compensated for the losses of 2014-2015. In 2017, the Republic of Crimea, according to Russian statistics, received 5.4 million tourists.

At the same time, in Crimea, the number of tourists in the high season has not yet reached the Soviet and Ukrainian levels, but the number of tourists in the velvet season and in the off-season has increased.

In 2018, 6.8 million tourists visited the Crimea, which was a record for the entire post-Soviet period ^[10] . Compared with the same indicator in 2017, the flow of tourists increased by 28%. It is believed that the increase is due to the development of transport infrastructure, namely, the opening of the Crimean bridge and the launch of a new terminal at Simferopol Airport ^[10] .

On the territory of Crimea there are 770 hotels and spa facilities, the total capacity of which is 158 thousand places ^[7] . A considerable capacity in the Crimea is also represented by the private sector in the amount of 14 thousand tenants and 4.5 thousand mini-hotels (2013), offering more affordable prices than official hotels and hotels, attracting mainly individual tourists. In 2016, the Crimea received 5.6 million tourists. ^[11] . On the territory of the peninsula 11 500 monuments of history, culture, architecture and 87 natural monuments are registered ^[1] . Tourism in the Republic of Crimea, as in Sevastopol , is changing under the influence of political and economic processes: in 1988, during the USSR , the peninsula experienced a peak of popularity among tourists when it was visited by 8.3 million people.

In Crimea, you can find many vacation homes , resorts , boarding houses , camps (for example, Artek ), various hotels from the simplest to five-star. According to the data for 2014 in the Crimea, there were 825 collective tourist accommodation facilities. In addition, about 5 thousand mini-hotels and individual guest houses were registered, as well as about 14.5 thousand tenants ^[4] .

The most popular holiday destinations are Yalta and Alushta ^[12] along with the entire southern coast of Crimea (South Coast), Feodosiya , Sudak , Yevpatoriya . The city of Sevastopol is one of the most interesting sightseeing places, as this city has repeatedly participated in various wars.

In Crimea there are many attractions . Geographically, they are unevenly located, mainly concentrated on the South Bank (South Coast), in the southwestern piedmont Crimea and in the southeast of the peninsula ( Sudak - Feodosiya region ).

All objects can be divided into historical monuments , architectural monuments , monuments of landscape gardening art , unique natural objects and other interesting objects. Many sights are told by local legends .

Caves of Crimea : Marble Cave , Red Caves , Emine-Bair-Khosar Cave .

Southern coast of Crimea

Historical monuments:

• The remains of the Feodorian medieval fortress Funa at the foot of Mount Demerdzhi near Alushta ;
• The medieval fortress of Aluston in the center of Alushta;
• The remains of the Christian basilica in the village of Partenit , the remains of medieval fortifications and structures on Mount Ayu-Dag ;
• Part of the wall of the Genoese fortress in Gurzuf ;
• Remains of a Roman fortress of the 1st century ( Haraks ) on Cape Ai-Todor (sanatorium "Dnieper" at the Swallow's Nest );

Architectural monuments:

• The temple in the name of all Crimean saints and Theodore Stratelates of 1842 ( Alushta );
• Palace of Princess Gagarina in 1907 with a park ( Utes cliff ), Alushta ;
• The mansion of General Raevsky in 1887 with a park ( Utes , Karasan);
• Church of John Chrysostom 1837 - restored after the war (1st temple of Yalta );
• The old part of Yalta - st. Catherine;
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in 1902 ( Yalta , Sadovaya St., 2);
• Armenian church of st. Hripsime 1909 - 1917 ( Yalta , Zagorodnaya St., 3);
• Mansion of the Bukhara Emir (sanatorium "Uzbekistan", Yalta );
• Livadia Palace of Nicholas II ( 1911 ) with a park (west of Yalta);
• Massandra Palace of Alexander III (1902);
• Kichkine Palace with Chair Park ( 1908 -1911) ( Livadia - Gaspra );
• Restaurant "Swallow's Nest" ( Gaspra );
• Countess Panina Palace (Gaspra);
• Yusupov Palace ( Koreiz );
• Vorontsov Palace in 1846 with a park ( Alupka );
• Church of the Ascension of Christ 1892 ( Foros );

Parks:

• Cliff ( XIX century );
• Karasan (XIX century);
• Gurzuf military sanatorium (XIX century);
• Nikitsky Botanical Garden ;
• Livadia;
• Chair Park (Kichkine Palace in Gaspra);
• Massandra
• Miskhor ;
• Lower Oreanda
• Vorontsovsky (n. Alupka);
• Melas ( p. Parkovoe );
• Forossky.
• Haraksky (town Gaspra)

Natural objects:

• Valley of Ghosts in the city of Demerdzhi ( Alushta );
• Waterfall Dzhur-Dzhur (Generalskoye village near Alushta);
• Golovkinsky Waterfall (near Alushta);
• Cape Plaka ( Utes cliff );
• Mount Ayu-Dag ( Partenit , Gurzuf );
• Rock Red Stone (Gurzuf);
• Wuchang-Su Waterfall (near Yalta );
• Mountain Lake Karagol (near Yalta);
• Mount Ai-Petri ;
• Mount Cat , the rock of Diva (p. Simeiz );
• Kastropolskaya wall ( Coastal )
• Baidar Gate Pass ( Foros );
• Crimean nature reserve ;
• Yalta Mountain Forest Nature Reserve ;
• Cape Martyan Nature Reserve ( Nikita ).

Other objects:

• Water parks in Alushta and Simeiz;
• Kozmo-Damianov Monastery (in the mountains near Alushta);
• Dolphinarium in Partenit;
• Cableway Miskhor - Ai-Petri ;
• The Royal Path (Gaspra-Livadia);
• Glade of Tales (Yalta);
• Yalta Zoo ;
• House Brownies Museum ;
• Yalta water area ;
• Museum of Nature and Dendrozoo Park (Alushta);
• Winery "Massandra" ;
• Institute of grapes and wine "Magarach" ;
• The Republican Museum of A.S. Pushkin in Gurzuf , the house-museums of writers: S.N. Sergeev-Tsensky (Alushta) , A.P. Chekhov (Yalta, Gurzuf), Lesya Ukrainka (Yalta), N. Biryukov (Yalta), I. S. Shmeleva (Alushta);
• House to the Duke Arman Emmanuel de Richelieu (Gurzuf)
• The house-museum of academician of architecture A.N. Beketov (Alushta).

Southwest Crimea

Historical monuments:

• The remains of the ancient and medieval city of Tauric Chersonesos in Sevastopol ;
• Towers and the remains of the fortress Chembalo XV century ( Balaclava near Sevastopol);
• The remains of the Kalamita fortress and Inkerman cave monastery (near Sevastopol);
• Cave cities or fortresses:

The ruins of fortresses of 13-15 centuries: Mangup , Syuyrenskaya , Eski-Kermen ; Monasteries: Chelter, Shuldan, Chelter-Koba (between Sevastopol and Bakhchisaray ); The ruins of fortresses of 13-15 centuries: Kyz-Kermen , Tepe-Kermen , Chufut-Kale ; Bakla ; Kachi-Kalon Monastery (near Bakhchisarai);

• Khan's palace of 16-18 centuries in Bakhchisarai.

Architectural monuments:

• Vladimir Cathedral in Sevastopol ;
• Bakhchisarai : Takhta-Jami Mosque, 1707 ; the mausoleum of Haji and Mengli-Gireyev in 1501 , Zindzhirlli-madrasah of the late 15th century .; Eski-Durbuet mausoleum (14-15 centuries).

Natural objects:

• Chernorechensky canyon (between Sevastopol and Foros );
• “Kargolez sphinxes” (v. Kuibyshevo );
• The Grand Canyon of Crimea , Serebryany Waterfall (Bakhchisarai district);
• Crimean nature reserve ;

Other objects:

• Dolphinarium in Sevastopol;
• Cove , embankment and secret underground factory with a museum in Balaclava;
• Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (n. Scientific);
• Many memorials to the fallen in the Crimean and World War II;

Southeast Crimea

Historical monuments:

• Genoese fortress of the 14-15th centuries in Sudak - walls and one and a half dozen towers are preserved;
• The remains of fortresses to the west of Sudak : Asandra, Kutlakskaya, Choban-Kale tower;
• The remains of the Genoese fortress in Feodosia : preserved sections of the walls and three towers; several Armenian churches;
• Surb Khach Monastery , founded in the 14th century. The church, bell tower (watch tower), refectory, monastic cells, terraces with drinking fountains have been preserved. There is a small museum.
• Toplovsky monastery
• Mosque of Khan Uzbek of 1314 and Madrasah of the 14th century; Kursun-Jami Mosque X - XII centuries ( Old Crimea )

Architectural monuments:

• A number of churches in Feodosia , including Surp-Sarkis 1363 ;

Other objects:

• Novyi Svit : bays, juniper grove, Novyi Svet champagne factory , Golitsyna trail and grotto ;
• Koktebel : mountain range Kara-Dag ; dolphinarium;
• water parks in Sudak and Koktebel;
• Theodosian Art Gallery named after I.K. Aivazovsky ;
• Grotto of Pushkin (Theodosius) .
• Museum of Vera Mukhina (Feodosia) .
• Museum of hang gliding .

Kerch :

• Excavations of the capital of the Bosporan kingdom Panticapaeum on Mount Mithridates
• Melek-Chesmensky mound ;
• Yeni-Kale Fortress ;
• Museum complex in Adzhimushkaysky quarries
• Kerch Fortress (Fort Totleben);
• Ostrich farm in the village of Podmayachny;
• Salt Lake Chokrak with healing mud;
• Valley of mud volcanoes;
• Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum ;
• Temple of the Beheading of John the Baptist;
• Excavations of the ancient towns of Nymphaeum and Tirithaka;
• Crypt of Demeter;
• Lapidarium;
• Royal Mound;
• Gold pantry.

Crimea was a haven for the annual music festival the Republic of KaZantip , which was held in Shchelkino at an abandoned nuclear power plant ( Kazantip Peninsula), then in Sudak in an ancient castle, and later in the village. Popovka near Yevpatoria, near the lake. Donuzlav . Annual international festivals are held in Kerch : the youth festival “Nearby World” and the festival of ancient theatrical art “Bospor Agony”.

West Crimea

Evpatoria : Karaite kenasses

Sevastopol

Given the special administrative status of Sevastopol and its peculiar economic and geographical characteristics, tourism in this subject has its own characteristics. It is closely connected with the republican in terms of transport, but has a more pronounced excursion and less significant beach component .

In the post-Soviet period , a general decline was observed in organized sanatorium-resort and mountain foothill tourism with an increase in the share of the beach destination in its spontaneous version. The number of tourists arriving by flights decreased due to their high cost, but at the same time, the load on railway and motor vehicles increased.

При этом количественно доминировавшие внутриукраинские туристы рассматривали Крым преимущественно как объект пляжного туризма в зоне шаговой доступности, что отчасти привело к упадку инвестиций в санаторно-курортный сектор. По этой же причине развилась и своеобразная географическая дифференция турпотоков из двух стран: в постсоветский период россияне были более склонны к размещению в санаториях ЮБК, а граждане Украины предпочитали более бюджетные варианты в частном секторе на северо-западе полуострова.

В этот же период произошли и другие, довольно интересные изменения, также отчасти связанные с падением покупательской способности бывших советских граждан: при сокращении количества летних туристов, значительно увеличивалась (в отдельные годы на 20-30 %) число туристов посещающих Крым в зимние, а также в другие нетрадиционные месяцы. При этом именно в постсоветский период «дикие» туристы активно популяризовали малоизвестные до этого географические области полуострова (Черноморское, Северный и Северо-Западный Крым) и даже «включили» в туристический список регионы до этого абсолютно не причислявшиеся к таковым местным населением ( Керчь , Щёлкино и весь Керченский полуостров ).

Отдыхающие по странам происхождения

В 1990-е годы в крымском турпотоке стал преобладающим внутриукраинский туризм. Доля внутриукраинских туристов достигла своего пика в 2009 году и составила 74 %. По данным за 2013 год, доля внутриукраинских туристов составила 66 %, на туристов из РФ пришлось 26,1 % турпотока и 4 % отдыхающих составили граждане Белоруссии. Ещё 2,0 % составили граждане других стран СНГ и ТС . Между 2009 и 2013 годами количество россиян, посетивших Крым, увеличилось на 60 %, а граждан Белоруссии удвоилось. В общем и целом, однако, Крым и в годы после распада СССР сохранял свою ориентированность почти исключительно на граждан из стран бывшего СССР (свыше 98 % турпотока). Несмотря на быстрый относительный рост иностранных туристов из Турции, Германии и Великобритании, туристы из стран дальнего зарубежья продолжали составлять менее 2 % приезжающих ^[3] . Однако несмотря на относительно небольшой процент граждан иностранных государств, АР Крым в том же 2011 году, к примеру, приняла 35 % всех иностранных туристов Украины. На долю Севастополя пришлось ещё 11 % иностранного турпотока. В итоге, эти два региона принимали до половины всех иностранных гостей Украины ^[2] .

Внутриукраинский туризм

Для внутриукраинского туризма в украинский период истории Крыма (1995—2014) было характерно преобладание жителей крупных городов, в особенности киевлян , которые стабильно составляли до 20 % и более от всех граждан Украины, ежегодно посещавших Крым (19,6 % в 2009 году; 21,84 % в 2012 году). ^[13] За ними традиционно, но с большим отрывом, следовали жители Харькова (6,3 %), Донецка (5,9 %), Львова (5,6 %), Запорожья (3,9 %), Луганска (2,9 %). Все другие регионы Украины дали в 2012 году несколько менее половины (42 %) прибывших в Крым ^[14] .

Внутрикрымский туризм

Во внутриукраинском потоке в украинский период истории Крыма большое значение имел внутрикрымский туризм, то есть отдых жителей самого полуострова на своих курортах. В 2008 сами крымчане составили 6,55 % организованно отдохнувших граждан Украины в Крыму. В 2009 году эта доля достигла 7,3 % ^[2] , а опросы 2012 года показали что сами крымчане, желающие отдохнуть на полуострове с долей в 11,38 % уступают по этому показателю лишь киевлянам ^[15] . Таким образом, жители полуострова стали лидерами по темпу увеличения спроса на рекреационные предложения своего же региона.

Внутрироссийский туризм

После присоединения Крыма к Российской Федерации наступил новый коренной перелом в структуре турпотоков и их финансовой составляющей: по данным за 2014 год Крым посетило в три раза больше россиян, чем в 2013 году. Несмотря на то, что турпоток с Украины сократился, за счёт большей платёжеспособности российских туристов 4 миллиона посетивших Крым в 2014 году дали примерно такой же уровень выручки (1,5 млрд рублей) как и 6 миллионов, посетивших полуостров в 2013 ^{[16] [17]} . Продолжал наращивать свои обороты нетрадиционный для советских времён зимний туризм: новогодние праздники на полуострове встретили 200 тыс. человек. В отличие от внутриукраинского периода, большинство туристов теперь прибывают в Крым авиатранспортом и задерживаются на полуострове на более продолжительный срок.

Транспортная блокада полуострова , инициированная украинскими властями в январе 2015 года, усилила переориентацию туристической отрасли Крыма на авиа- и паромных туристов из других субъектов РФ. Керченская паромная переправа сделала крымский туризм больше привязанным к туристической отрасли Краснодарского края России .

• film "Three plus two" (1963)
• film "Savages" (2006)

• Resorts of Crimea
• Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Crimea
• The Velvet season
• Crimean legends
• Tourism in the Krasnodar Territory
• World Tourism Day

• Crimean Maldives // NG, July 2017
• In Crimea, they talked about an unprecedented tourist boom // RIA, Aug 2018