Residents of Dagestan argue on appropriateness of making remarks to tourists

Remarks to tourists who violate the behaviour norms adopted in Dagestan are quite appropriate and necessary, some residents of the republic have stated. Others object believing that remarks to visitors can only be made in most egregious cases; they are commenting on the release in Dagestan of a new memo with conduct rules for tourists.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Dagestani Ministry of Tourism had issued a memo for guests, recommending them to wear "modest" clothes and follow the conduct rules while in the republic.

Such memos are necessary so that tourists understand the elementary dress code and behaviour in Dagestan, Kurban, a resident of Makhachkala, believes. At the same time, he is sure that the problem of tourists who fail to follow the local rules is not so acute.

Magomed, another resident of Dagestan, believes that such memos are necessary for all the republics of Northern Caucasus, where there is a minimum tourist flow. "As social networks show, tourists who want to walk naked or drunk in the mountains are a common problem for the Caucasus. People in North Ossetia, Karachay-Cherkessia and other republics talk about the need for similar reminders," he has explained.

Such memos look like an attempt to present Dagestanis better than they really are, believes Farida, a resident of Makhachkala. "For example, local men smoke in public places," she has explained.

Such memos are necessary to minimize conflicts between local residents and tourists, Muslim, a resident of Makhachkala, believes.

He has recalled that there were several high-profile conflicts in Dagestan, provoked by ignoring the generally accepted forms of clothing and of conduct.

According to Kurban, a local resident, the basic rules for visitors to Dagestan are not to smoke in public places, not to use obscene language and dress more modestly.

In his turn, Gasan, a professional from the Dagestani tourism industry, believes that such memos may alert tourists: "They are not used to restrictions, except perhaps in Chechnya."