New head of Buryatia promises boost in tourism to Siberia's Buddhist region

Formerly Russia's deputy transport minister, the new acting head of the Republic of Buryatia replaces two term Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn.

At a meeting with Vladimir Putin he said that the potential for tourist development was one of 'many advantages' enjoyed by Buryatia, which lies on the shore of Lake Baikal.

He spoke of 'a large supply of sought-after minerals' and a  good geographical position in relation to Asian-Pacific countries with promising markets. 

Buryatia also had 'good potential in agriculture' and a small but strong hi-tech sector, said the politician who is an ethnic Buryat and was born in Chita region.  

Seen as a close ally of President Putin, the republic's new acting head will face an election in the autumn.

He told Mr Putin: 'We can raise the economic level and the quality of life in a fairly short period of time. We will do everything for this.' 

Buryatia was the only Siberian region to change its head, although elsewhere other new names came in evidently at the initiative of the Kremlin. 

On 7 February, Nagovitsyn, 60, called a press conference to announce he was standing down. He told journalists: 'Formally, there is a reason (for me) to go for a third term, but today there is a position that Buryatia needs a change. 

'And I took the right decision not to run for another term. I think that two is enough.'