Tourism subsidy rules revised after entrepreneur's legal challenge succeeds

An entrepreneur in the Mansky-Uyarsky municipal district applied for a state subsidy to set up a tourist base in September. The request was denied because the business also produced building materials, not just tourism services. The regional tourism agency’s rules required applicants to focus solely on tourism. This meant any company with additional activities, like the entrepreneur’s, could not receive funding. One in four applications faced rejection for the same reason.

The entrepreneur would have needed to register a new, tourism-only company to qualify. This requirement was seen as costly and impractical. The prosecutor’s office reviewed the case and found the agency’s order created an unnecessary barrier for businesses.

After intervention, the restrictive clause was removed from the regulations. Businesses can now develop tourism as either their primary or secondary activity and still access support. The change means more companies can apply for tourism subsidies without restructuring. The entrepreneur’s case highlighted a flaw in the original policy. The updated rules aim to encourage broader participation in the tourism sector.