Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages: 566-571

J. Environ. Treat. Tech.

ISSN: 2309-1185

Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com

Problems and Prospects for the Development of

Ecological Tourism in the Russian Federation

Boris M. Eidelman , Oleg A. Bunakov , Natalia A. Zaitseva , Anna A. Larionova , Anna

M. Nayda , Nina V. Dmitrieva , Elena V. Dashkova

Kazan (Volga region) Federal University, Department of Tourism and Service, Kazan, Russia

Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Industry, Moscow, Russia

Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Department of Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance,

Moscow, Russia

University of Management "TISBI", Department of Management, Kazan, Russia

Russian State University of Tourism and Service, Graduate School of Business, Management and Law, Cherkizovo, Russia

Chechen State University, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Grozny, Russia

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to identify the problems and prospects for the development of ecological tourism

in the Russian Federation. The content of the concept “ecological tourism” is disclosed and the reasons for the growth of its popularity

in various countries in recent years are shown. Methodology: The leading methods in the study of this problem were the methods of

bibliographic search, theoretical and empirical methods, the method of consolidation and synthesis of research results, methods of

expert evaluation and comprehensive analysis of problems. Results: The results of the study are that, based on a study of statistical

data, the place of Russia in the world in the development of ecological tourism and specially protected natural territories has been

determined. The large resource potential of the Russian Federation in terms of the development of ecological tourism has been

substantiated, and a number of especially unique natural objects recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites have been characterized.

The authors identified a number of problems and promising areas for the most effective development of this type of tourism. The role

and importance of environmental tourism as a locomotive of the socio-economic development of many remote regions of Russia, which

do not have a powerful industrial base, but have a unique natural potential, are revealed. Applications of this study: Practical application

of the results of this study is possible in the development of regional and municipal tourism development programs, as well as the

formation of regional tourism products. The originality of the study is determined by an integrated approach to the study of the problems

and prospects for the development of ecological tourism in the Russian Federation, including at the level of regional and municipal

entities. Novelty/Originality of this study: The novelty of the research results consists in substantiating the reasons for the intensive

development of ecological tourism in the world and in the Russian Federation, the conditions for the effective development of this type

of tourism, promising directions for the development of ecological tourism, as well as the problems and priorities for the development

of ecological tourism in the Russian Federation.

Keywords: ecology, ecological tourism, natural complexes, specially protected natural zones, ecological routes, regional tourist

product.

in Asia: Thailand, China (Hainan Island), India; in North and

Introduction

South America: Canada, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador; Australia

and other regions. According to forecasts of the World

Tourism Organization, ecological tourism for the coming

years is among the five most promising types of tourism in the

world (1).

In recent years, the tourism industry has been developing

at a booming pace in the Russian Federation, playing an

increasingly prominent role in the country's economy. Along

with the development of various types of tourism, such as

cultural, recreational, beach, event, business, sports, etc.,

ecological tourism is becoming increasingly popular. This

process is a reflection of global trends, manifested in many

industrialized countries of the world. In recent years, eco-

tourism has been actively developing not only in European

countries, such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, but also

As it is known, ecological tourism is understood as rational

use of natural resources in order to develop tourism (10, 11,

12, 15). Ecological tourism or ecotourism is a journey with

responsibility towards the environment in relation to

undisturbed natural areas in order to explore and enjoy nature

Corresponding author: Natalia A. Zaitseva, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Department of Hospitality, Tourism and

Sports Industry, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: zaitseva-itig@mail.ru.

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages: 566-571

and cultural sights, which contributes to nature conservation,

has a “soft” impact on the environment, ensures the active

socio-economic participation of local people and their benefits

from this activity (3, 4, 5, 16). However, different authors

differently understand the essence of this type of tourism. So

O.A. Almukhamedova (2016) gives the following definition to

the concept of “Ecotourism”: it is a type of tourism, which

embodies the concept of creating a balance between the

economic advantage derived from outdoor recreation and the

ecological protection of recreational zones in the focus of the

global plan - to preserve the nature of the planet as the basis of

life on it (2). A.A. Gusanov (2010) gives the definition of

ecotourism as a form of sustainable tourism, focused on visits

to the relatively untouched anthropogenic impact of natural

territories (8).

- development of modern transport infrastructure in tourist

destinations;

- pursuing a reasonable pricing policy that makes this type of

tourism accessible to the general population with a relatively

low-income level;

- effective organization of ecological tours, involving the

continuous development of new routes to remote and

underdeveloped corners of the "wild" nature;

- the presence of attractive and unique natural objects that

contribute to the ecological and aesthetic education of tourists

who have visited them.

If in many countries, primarily European ones, ecotourism

has already gained great momentum, and according to the

World Tourism Organization, its volume in 2018 amounted to

about 10% of annual income from all types of tourism, in

Russia it takes only the first steps (14). For example, the

income from ecotourism in the US has recently reached almost

15 billion dollars, while in Russia this figure is only about 20

million dollars, which is almost 750 times less than in the

United States (6). Russia is significantly lagging behind in this

issue from a number of other countries, such as Canada,

Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Thailand, etc. In recent

years, ecotourism is beginning to actively develop in Russia,

which is caused by the presence of unique natural objects that

cause genuine interest from people from all over the world and

significantly increase the tourist and recreational potential of a

large number of Russian regions. It should be noted that many

unique natural complexes are protected by Russian legislation,

and some of them have been declared UNESCO World

Heritage sites in Russia (by the beginning of 2019 there were

Thus, it can be concluded that this research topic is

relevant and timely, both for the Russian Federation and many

other countries of the world.

Methodology

The leading methods in the study of this problem were the

methods of bibliographic search, theoretical and empirical

methods, the method of consolidation and synthesis of

research results, methods of expert evaluation and

comprehensive analysis of problems. In addition, statistical

data were analyzed from the official websites of international

organizations of the International Union for Conservation of

Nature and The International ecotourism society, as well as

data from Rosstat.

1 natural sites in Russia recognized as UNESCO World

.1 Reasons for Increasing Interest in Ecotourism in the

World

The interest in ecotourism, both in scientific and

Heritage sites).

2.2 Assessment of the Role of Specially Protected Natural

theoretical and practical terms, is due to a number of reasons,

among which are the following (9):

Territories in Various Countries of the World.

In terms of the area of specially protected natural areas,

Russia is currently ranked fourth after the United States,

Australia and Canada. At the same time, by the number of

specially protected natural territories, Russia is on the 5th

place in the world. Their total area in Russia is only about 2%

of the entire territory of the country, and by this indicator the

country ranks 9th in the world, passing ahead, in addition to

the above countries, also Sweden, New Zealand, Norway,

Indonesia and Finland (Table 1 and Figure one).

As can be seen from the data of Table 1, the leaders in the

total area of specially protected natural territories are the

leaders in the total area of specially protected natural territories

in various countries of the world as a percentage of the

country's territory (Figure 1) .

a significant increase in the anthropogenic load on natural

systems, which necessitates the development of a scientifically

based system of measures to preserve the environment and

unique natural monuments;

striving to protect the population of industrialized countries

from stress, nervous exhaustion and various diseases caused

by urbanization processes;

closer communication with nature, “immersion” into it,

lengthening the length of stay in the untouched corners of the

wild nature;

changes in the behavior of people, consisting in the desire for

the importance of the formation of an effective system of

environmental education and the education of the younger

generation in the spirit of love for nature, its preservation and

enhancement of natural resources;

2.3 The Role and Resources of Ecological Tourism in the

the need for the socio-economic development of territories

Russian Federation

with an underdeveloped sphere of industry and world cultural

heritage sites, but with significant and often unique natural

potential; able to interest tourists from all over the world;

Thanks to the development of ecotourism, Russia is

opening, first of all, to foreign citizens from a slightly different

side. It becomes obvious that Russia should be associated not

only with industrialized and urbanized territories, not only

with the capitals of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major

cities, but also with a variety of environmental objects.

preservation and further development of the socio-cultural

environment of the local population living near specially

protected natural territories.

The development of eco-tourism currently requires the

fulfillment of a number of conditions:

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages: 566-571

Table 1: Comparative characteristics of specially protected natural areas in different countries of the world (7)

Total area of specially protected natural

territories, thousand hectares

№

Country

Number of Protected Areas (PA)

USA

803

2537

1814

144

122

750

54 312

48 473

45 636

42 568

5 668

3 928

3 562

1 933

1 672

1 529

999

Australia

Canada

Russia

Indonesia

Sweden

India

New Zealand

Kazakhstan

Norway

Finland

131

110

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Ukraine

Japan

820

807

800

638

Italy

442

Spain

160

Germany

Austria

129

Denmark

Germany

Spain

0.3

0.4

0.3

0.6

Kazakhstan

New Zealand

Sweden

Russia

7.2

8.7

Canada

Australia

USA

4.6

6.3

5.6

Figure 1: The total area of ecially protected natural territories in various countries of the world as a percentage of the country's territory (13)

It should be emphasized that the Russian Federation is in

the leading positions in the world in terms of natural diversity

and the number of unique objects of nature. Among the places

in Russia where ecological tourism has the strongest positions,

we should first of all include Lake Baikal, the Altai Territory,

Karelia, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Kamchatka

region and a number of other regions. One of the most amazing

and picturesque natural complexes located on the territory of

Russia is without a doubt Lake Baikal. As is known, this is the

deepest and largest freshwater lake in the world, a unique

reservoir of pure drinking water, pristine nature that has

practically not experienced the impact of the anthropogenic

factor, as well as many types of unique animals, birds and fish

found only in these places.

the unknown place shrouded in ancient legends and secrets. It

should be noted that recently tourist flows to this region have

been constantly growing at any time of the year. The island of

Kizhi in Karelia, where the State Historical-Architectural and

Ethnographic Museum-Reserve is located, has been an

extremely attractive place for tourists for many years. The

pogost in Kizhi, built in the 18th century, is a unique example

of the lost art of traditional Russian wooden architecture. The

island has two impressive churches and an octagonal clock

tower, all made of wood. This is the only remaining complex

with two multi-headed wooden churches across the country.

According to legend, the 37-meter-high Transfiguration

Church was created without a single nail and did not use

anything other than an ax, which the carpenter then threw into

the lake, so no one could repeat this feat.

Currently, more and more tourists from all over the world

come to Lake Baikal to admire this wonder of nature, to join

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages: 566-571

A completely unique natural monument is the Lena Pillars,

which are titanic monoliths up to 200 meters high, lined up

along the banks of the Lena River, about 110 kilometers from

the city of Yakutsk in Eastern Siberia.

They were a sacred place for the indigenous peoples of

these places: Yakuts and Evenki tribes. In the old days, people

were afraid of the spirit of the rocks and did not dare to

approach these unique natural objects. Only elders and

shamans could safely approach what they believe turned

people into stone.

- Lack of qualified specialists, as well as due experience

necessary for the effective organization of activities in the

tourism industry, mainly in the marketing sphere, educational

programs for various categories of tourists, pricing, the

implementation of quality services;

- Lack of variety of paid additional services and tourist

products for visitors to PAs, which negatively affects the total

profit from tourism;

- Lack of involvement of the indigenous population in the

development of ecological tourism.

In this national park one can find numerous caves, ancient

rock paintings and abundant Cambrian fossils.

However, there are a number of promising areas for the

most effective development of this type of tourism (Figure 2).

Attention should be paid to the fact that for many regions

of Russia, especially located in Siberia and the Far East,

ecological tourism is practically the only effective way to

attract large tourist flows from around the world. In turn, this

significantly increases the investment attractiveness of the

respective territories and becomes a condition for their further

successful socio-economic development. All this should

prevent further outflow of the population to the European part

of the country, promote the creation of new jobs and the

development of small and medium-sized businesses in the

services and hospitality sector. Ecotourism cannot only, but

also have to become a driver of economic growth, promote the

effective economic development of many remote regions of

Russia, contribute to their further development, the creation of

a modern transport infrastructure and the improvement of the

quality of tourist services.

Priority tasks for the development of ecological tourism in

the Russian Federation.

In order to significantly increase the volume of ecological

tourism in the Russian Federation in the coming years it is

necessary to solve a number of tasks:

1. Formation of scientifically based federal and regional

strategic programs for the development of ecological tourism

in the territory of the Russian Federation.

2. High-quality training of modern specialists in the field

of ecological tourism.

The real gem on the map of tourist ecological routes of the

Russian Federation is the Golden Mountains of Altai, located

in the south of Siberia. They are undoubtedly one of the

cleanest and most beautiful regions of Russia. This is a

permanent habitat for many rare and endangered animal

species, such as, for example, the snow leopard. It covers two

large Siberian rivers - Ob and Irtysh and is currently one of the

most popular places for tourists and climbers from all over the

country. Here you can truly appreciate the pristine beauty of

Siberian nature, its uniqueness and originality.

One of the most amazing places on earth is the Kamchatka

Peninsula. Ancient volcanic and glacial activity carved it into

a whimsically beautiful landscape of fire and ice. Six

Kamchatka volcanic objects were designated as World

Heritage Sites, since they determine the peculiarities of the

volcanic nature of the peninsula, consisting in the constant

volcanic activity and high seismicity of the region. In this case,

Kamchatka is considered a region of a very large species

diversity of many valuable species of animals and birds.

Extremely attractive for tourists are the Caucasus

Mountains, where you can build and effectively operate ski

resorts, as well as mountaineering, taking into account the

unique natural features of the region: healing mountain air, a

large variety of ecosystems, with important endemic plants

and wildlife.

The Western Caucasus, located 50 km north-east of the

Black Sea, is one of the few large mountainous areas of Europe

where there was no significant human impact on nature. Rest

in the Caucasus Mountains is very healthy and attractive for

tourists from all over the world.

3. Development of additional routes and directions in the

field of ecological tourism.

4. Attracting domestic and foreign private investment in

the development of ecological tourism in Russia.

Even such a very short and far incomplete enumeration of

the unique and attractive for tourists’ objects of the natural

environment makes it possible to present the enormous

potential that the Russian Federation currently has in the

development of ecological tourism.

5. Additional protection of natural territories from the

impact of increasing tourist flows on them: timely and constant

cleaning of natural tourist sites from debris, prevention and

elimination of forest fires, protection of animals and

vegetation from ill-considered actions of individual citizens

(

for example, improper feeding of animals or collecting very

2.4 Problems and Perspective Directions of the

rare species flowers, herbs, etc.).

Development of Ecological Tourism in the Russian

Federation

Effective management of ecological tourism is possible

using the following methods:

The study revealed the following main problems at the

level of local authorities (regions, municipalities):

1. Territory zoning involves the isolation of different types

of territories: serious protection; limited operation; limited use

of visitors; intensive use; infrastructure.

The lack of a system of established mechanisms that

determine the permitted anthropogenic pressures, and the

monitoring of the effects on natural landscapes;

2. Coordination of tourist flows will be able to solve the

qualitative and quantitative aspect of the problem

Virtually everywhere there is no infrastructure of the required

maintaining an acceptable anthropogenic load and reducing

the inappropriate behavior of visitors in relation to the

surrounding nature, respectively. It is necessary to concentrate

visitors in places with a higher recreational capacity and

distribute the flow of tourists to less intensive zones of

utilization.

quality – accommodation facilities, vehicles, tourist routes,

equipped ecological paths and others;

(

Lack of information from the objects of display

characteristics, distribution, characteristics, etc.).

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2019, Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages: 566-571

Figure 2: Prospective directions for the development of ecological tourism

. Obtaining environmental education by PA staff, local

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Thus, Russia, which has an enormous natural diversity, has

significant potential for the development of ecological

tourism. In the coming years, the Russian Federation may

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tourist flows to regions that are attractive from an

environmental point of view and significantly improve the

financial and economic results of tourist activities in this area.

At the same time, the intensive development of ecological

tourism in the Russian regions is possible only if it is possible

to overcome the problems that are justified in this article and

to solve priorities, both at the federal, regional and municipal

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