Authorities' concern on tourists' dress code surprises KBR residents

Tourists must observe customs and traditions of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) and avoid wearing excessively short shorts; women should not wear short skirts and dresses with a deep neckline, the KBR's Ministry of Resorts has stated. Authorities should be concerned about the poor condition of tourist sites and the problem with spontaneous landfills, and not introduce rules that contradict secular principles, residents of the republic have objected in social networks.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Northern Caucasus, including the KBR, the issue of introducing a dress code for tourists, whose behaviour and clothing style, according to local residents, violates traditions of the Caucasus has been repeatedly raised.

In the KBR, strict requirements for tourists regarding dress code continue being applied. When visiting public places in hot weather, tourists should wear tank tops and T-shirts that cover the stomach, and skirts and shorts should not go above knees. Clothes should not be transparent or tight-fitting, and dresses should not have a deep neckline, the above ministry has stated.

“A separate topic is beach holidays. In the KBR, it is customary to swim and sunbathe in the places provided for this purpose. Exposure of intimate body parts is categorically unacceptable,” the ministry’s page in the "VKontakte" social network prescribes.

“I was surprised by the strange ministry's statement; it would be better if they contacted tourists and residents of the republic so that there would not be heaps of garbage, candy wrappers, and plastic bottles in public places ... And who dresses how, this is one's personal business; the main thing is to maintain decency,” the Instagram* user happiness_is_there_07 has written.

“At this rate, there will be nothing left of the secular republic. I have never encountered anyone in the city or outside of it dressed too revealingly,” the user rose_flower02 has noted.

Let us remind you that residents of Karachay-Cherkessia and Dagestan also earlier expressed complaints to tourists about their appearance.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.