The I All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation "Ecological Tourism: Development Challenges" was held with the participation of the Moscow State University of Sports and Tourism (MGUSiT), the leading educational institution in Russia in the field of training for the tourism and hospitality industry.
This event was the first step on the path of interaction, along which MGUSiT and the Russian Environmental Chamber agreed to move together. Vladimir Evgenievich Koptev-Dvornikov, co-chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the Russian Ecological Chamber, became a co-moderator of the conference together with the head of the tourism department of the Moscow State University of Sports and Tourism, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Alexei Vladimirovich Korshunov. The significance of the conference was emphasized by the opening speech of the Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Duma, head of the working group for the development of tourism, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Stepan Vladimirovich Orlov. Stepan Vladimirovich welcomed the interaction of state and public structures in solving urgent environmental problems and challenges, one of which is undoubtedly the development of ecological tourism.
The key event of the conference was the signing of an agreement on cooperation and interaction between the Moscow State University of Sports and Tourism and the Russian Environmental Chamber. Signing the agreement and welcoming the participants of the conference, Head of the Moscow State University of Sports and Tourism, Honored Worker of Physical Culture of Russia, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences Natalya Vasilievna Masyagina noted the importance of developing eco-tourism for Moscow, both in terms of improving the recreational infrastructure of the metropolis, and in terms of outbound tourism for Muscovites.
In his speech, Vladimir Evgenyevich Koptev-Dvornikov, Co-Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the Russian Ecological Chamber, spoke about the development of the glemping industry and noted the need to develop this industry to increase the attractiveness of specially protected natural areas for lovers of comfortable outdoor recreation.
John Fitzpatrick, head of the US Environmental Chamber, shared his experience of eco-tourism in the USA. Our American colleague paid special attention to the topic of the impact of ecotourism on the environment and the economy. Victoria Quiri, editor-in-chief of the European Bureau of the EcoTourism.Expert portal, who joined the conference from Strasbourg, France, spoke about the work on environmental education.
One of the most interesting presentations was the report of Professor, Doctor of Economics Elena Vasilievna Vasilyeva, Director of the Center for International Scientific Research of St. Petersburg State University of Economics, dedicated to the problems of quality of service in ecological tourism.
Vadim Olegovich Petrov, Advisor to the Director of the State Oceanographic Institute named after N. N. Zubov, member of the Public Council of Roshydromet, spoke about the key performance indicators of eco-tourism.
The conference was attended by research scientists from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Saratov and even Vladivostok, covering a variety of interesting topics: from the inclusion of young people in tourism development projects in specially protected natural areas to the development of the Arctic as an attractive tourist destination and the involvement of the indigenous peoples of the North in the development of ecological tourism.
The conference was attended by research scientists from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Saratov and even Vladivostok, covering a variety of interesting topics: from the inclusion of young people in tourism development projects in specially protected natural areas to the development of the Arctic as an attractive tourist destination and the involvement of the indigenous peoples of the North in the development of ecological tourism.
The conference was held including using online technologies. Otherwise, it would be difficult to provide such a wide geography of participants.
Summing up the results of the conference, Aleksey Vladimirovich Korshunov, Head of the Department of Tourism of the Moscow State University of Sports and Tourism, Honorary Worker of the Youth Policy of the Russian Federation, Laureate of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of education, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, noted: “One of the main types of domestic tourism, which is especially rapidly developing today in conditions of complicated international situation, has become eco-tourism.
Developing and recreational, educational and civic - we can give many characteristic characteristics to ecological tourism. The significance of its development for our country, replete with unique reserves and specially protected natural areas, simply amazing ecological places, is limitless. And it is the development of ecological tourism that can become one of the drivers of economic growth even in the poorest regions of our country.”
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