Taking part in the working meeting were representatives of the Presidential Executive Office, Federation Council, State Duma, Federal Agency for Tourism, Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot), executive bodies of power of the Rostov Region and the Republic of Tatarstan, and heads of commercial organisations engaged in passenger water transportation.
The discussion focused on obstacles to the development of tourist cruises, which include limiting sections of inland waterways and the underdevelopment of coastal infrastructure.
Participants in the meeting expressed their concern over the level of fixed assets depreciation in the transportation complex. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, this is especially true of inland water transport: 45 percent of river and lake boats have been in operation for over 35 years, and 35 percent of passenger sea vessels – for over 30 years.