Far Away and Family-Oriented

From Soviet-Era Retreats to Modern Hotels

Kamchatka holds significant potential for development initiatives—and this trend is expected to continue for at least the next five years.

Tourist traffic to the peninsula has been steadily climbing. In 2017, the region recorded 175,000 visitors; by 2024, that number had reached 410,800. According to the Kamchatka Krai Ministry of Tourism, annual arrivals are projected to exceed 600,000 by 2030.

Large-scale projects are currently underway, with many more in the pipeline. These developments target a broad demographic: young couples, seniors, and families with children. Even before the pandemic, private projects began emerging in the region—designed for both locals and tourists.

FANTALIS Architects began working in Kamchatka in 2017. At the time, the region’s hospitality sector was geared primarily toward international tourists. Americans came for hunting and fishing; Germans for overland travel. Locals, meanwhile, vacationed in budget cabins or stayed at Soviet-era retreats.

The Laguna resort was built on the site of a former Soviet pioneer camp. “In the early 1990s, Icelandic specialists designed and built an aqua center here,” Roman Fantalis, President of FANTALIS Group, told Expert magazine. “For locals, this project became a symbol of regional revival. They were proud of Laguna—they saw it as a new chapter for Kamchatka. We decided to carry that legacy forward.”

Today, Laguna is a 250-room SPA hotel featuring a thermal spa, a diverse range of accommodations, and three restaurants. “At first, we considered building a large five-star hotel,” Roman Fantalis recalls. “But we quickly moved away from that idea. We realized local residents had very different expectations. They wanted something simpler—no frills.”

According to Fantalis, successful tourism development in the Far East requires more than a local family-oriented focus. “An investor entering the Far East needs a networked project from the outset—not just a standalone hotel. You need to operate as a tour operator, offering not only accommodation and meals but also excursions and guide services—a complete package.”

Roadside infrastructure development is one of the region’s most urgent priorities. This is not only a matter of comfort but of basic safety: the farther you go from the main road into the forest, the greater the chance of encountering a bear. That said, safety can also be addressed through architectural strategy. FANTALIS Architects’ portfolio includes the completed Extreme Hotel Aurora. The concept draws on the traditions of Kamchatka’s Indigenous peoples—the Itelmens and Koryaks—as well as ancient Russian bridge-building techniques. Guest houses and the restaurant are elevated on a 2,500-square-meter platform of larch, suspended three meters above the ground. This structural approach protects the soil ecosystem, mitigates seasonal flooding—and, crucially, keeps wildlife at bay.

Source: https://expert.ru/goroda/dalniy-i-semeynyy/