Russian Railways (RZD) has invested about RUR10 mio ($155,200) to develop the first section of the Great Valdai Trail in the Novgorod Region. Investors in the second section have not been disclosed.
The Great Valdai Trail project is being developed in several phases; the first section of the hiking trail will open soon. According to project curator Marina Gritsun, Russian rail monopoly RZD has invested about RUR10 mio in the first section.
The money was spent to build wooden decks for wetlands and camp-sites, as well as sanitary zones and a viewing tower at the highest point of the route, she said.
The timeframe for the second phase is not yet known; neither did Gritsun disclose its potential investors as she spoke at the news conference, “National trails and children’s tourism: Developing a new tourist industry,” at TASS on Thursday June 13. She also told Invest Foresight it was difficult to predict the exact number of tourists who would use the trail this summer.
“Over the last month, over 100 hikers contacted me, wanting to use the trail,” she added.
The Great Valdai Trail will link the main landmarks of the national park, running from the town of Valdai to the village of Dunayevshchina. The trail is designed for a six-day hike, with five camp-sites.