Anapa’s tourist season is facing significant difficulties, with many businesses struggling to survive due to a lack of tourists. The situation is so dire that some retail outlets have remained closed, and entrepreneurs are appealing to the government for assistance. The primary cause is the drastically reduced number of visitors, leaving the resort town, which heavily relies on tourism, without the usual influx of vacationers.

The situation varies across different parts of Anapa. While the center of the resort and Vityazevo are showing signs of revival, Dzhemete is described as resembling a “post-apocalyptic movie set,” with many establishments closed. On Chernomorskaya Street in Vityazevo, trade is active, but neighboring Svetlaya Street has closed businesses.

Entrepreneurs are struggling with losses, and some have had to reduce prices significantly to attract any customers. Guest house owners in Vityazevo have halved the cost of daily living, but occupancy rates remain very low. Many business owners are operating at a loss, hoping that August will bring some improvement.

The government has introduced some support measures, including deferrals on tax payments for tourist companies and microloans for small and medium-sized businesses. However, these measures have not been sufficient to alleviate the difficulties faced by many entrepreneurs, particularly guest house owners. The cancellation of the tourist tax has had minimal impact, as it was recently introduced.

Local entrepreneurs are seeking more substantial government intervention to prevent mass bankruptcies and job losses. A petition has been created, appealing to the government for direct subsidies, interest-free loans, and deferrals on various taxes. They are also requesting compensation for environmental damage and the creation of a national fund to address the consequences of oil spills. The petition has garnered support from numerous enterprises in the region.