State Duma deputy Konstantin Zaitsev said Irkutsk Oblast has high economic potential, but suffers from frequent leadership changes and political instability. He proposed developing tourism and making Baikalsk the base of a special economic zone. He also said the region will get federal support in 2009, including funds for roads and housing and utilities.
At the same time, in terms of economic potential, it is among the leading regions. This was stated at a press conference at the end of last week by State Duma deputy Konstantin Zaitsev. According to him, the current situation is linked to frequent changes in the region’s leadership: political instability has a negative effect on the efficiency of the authorities’ work.Konstantin Zaitsev believes that active development of tourism could be a solution to the problem of insufficient regional budget revenues. In his opinion, a special tourism zone should be created in Baikalsk, rather than in the area of Bolshoye Goloustnoye or in Listvyanka.
– A tourist complex in this place can operate practically year-round; the area has all the necessary infrastructure for creating a tourism zone, – K. Zaitsev said.
According to him, Baikalsk could become the base site of a special economic zone, and in general the SEZ project should also include tourism development in other popular vacation spots, for example, on Maloye More.
The State Duma deputy also spoke about measures of federal support for the Irkutsk Region in 2009. This year, federal funds will be allocated to the Primngarye for the development of roads and housing and communal services.