Putin discussed with Mutko plans for the development of the homeland of Santa Claus

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the CEO of Dom.On October 20, Vitaly Mutko discussed plans for the development of Veliky Ustyug, the birthplace of Santa Claus.

"Are you transforming the homeland of Santa Claus?" he asked Mutko, studying the presentation.

In response, the head of the "House.RF" confirmed that the state corporation, together with representatives of AFK Sistema, is developing a master plan for the development of the city's infrastructure. The document will focus on the development strategy until 2036 and should take into account all aspects, including strengthening cultural identity and improving urban infrastructure.

Agreement on the development of a master plan for Veliky Ustyug between Dom.The Russian Federation", the government of the Vologda Region, the administration of the Velikoustyugsky Municipal District and the Santa Claus Theme Park company were signed in the summer at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2025).

Veliky Ustyug, which will celebrate its 880th anniversary in 2027, will also receive additional funding: "Dom.The Russian Federation has allocated 4.2 billion rubles for the reconstruction of the homeland of Santa Claus. The city authorities also invite residents to make suggestions to improve the urban environment.

The right time: the demand for New Year's tours has already doubled

During the year, the average cost of tours at the beginning of January increased by 10-25%, depending on the destination

On October 9, it was reported that Russians began actively buying tours for the New Year holidays. According to the Tourvisor aggregator, the average cost of a tour for the last days of December and the beginning of January is 275 thousand rubles for nine nights for two. This is almost 1.5 times more expensive than the average annual cost of tours, which is 182 thousand rubles.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.