On the east coast of the Black Sea, in south Russia and on the same latitudes as the French Riviera, Liguria, New York or Korea, stretches the Caucasian Riviera. Or, if we go back to Classical Antiquity three millennia ago, a region that was known as Colchis, the land of the mythical Amazons, the destination of Jason and the Argonauts on their adventure in search of the Golden Fleece. In contemporary times, during the 19th century, thanks to its beaches and the fact that it is one of the few geographical areas in Russia with a subtropical climate, the Caucasian Riviera became very popular among the Russian aristocracy. This fame not only lasted, but grew among the Russian people during the decades of the USSR. In fact, today the popularity of its shores is no longer limited to the local public, but extends to international tourism. Its main exponent is precisely Sochi, Russia’s largest tourist enclave and the main city of the Caucasian Riviera.
Sochi currently has more than 600 hotels and resorts, 66 sanatoriums, a spa, more than a hundred beach areas, and countless restaurants, international shops, travel agencies, tour operators, leisure and entertainment centres, and so on. In fact, one of the many resorts is the Alean Family Resort & Spa Sputnik, for which Amusement Logic manufactured and installed a large themed Waterparty, with four slides, 3D modelled figures, water guns, net bridges and other play elements.
In 2010, Sochi topped the “Ranking of Russian cities by quality of life“, according to the index jointly compiled by the St. Petersburg Institute of Spatial Planning (Urbanica) and the Union of Architects of Russia, which evaluates urban infrastructure, social services (health, education and leisure activities), economic stability, public safety and environmental conditions. The experts particularly highlighted the city’s economic development thanks to the large investments made in the infrastructure needed to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. In 2012, Sochi took first place in the ranking of the “30 best cities for business” in Russia by the prestigious Forbes magazine.
Sochi is now a world-class tourist destination to be enjoyed at any time of the year. During the warmer months, it offers tourists beaches, hotels and resorts, and a good range of leisure and entertainment. During the winter season, it’s time to put on your skis and hit the slopes in the foothills of the Caucasus. And the figures bear this out: according to the latest available data, 5.2 million tourists visited the city in 2016, an increase of 5.9% compared to the previous year and the average annual hotel occupancy rate reached 77%. Finally, to underline the importance of the city, it is suffice to consider that Sochi’s tourism industry accounted for 18.6% of Russia’s total tourism revenue in 2015.
To enjoy aerial images of the city, here is a video:
