Development of ethnotourism as an example of an ESG approach to interaction with indigenous people

Alexander Vorotnikov, coordinator of the Expert Council of the Project Office for the Development of the Arctic, made a presentation on this issue at the “CHALLENGES 2030. Sustainable Development of Regions” conference on July 7, 2022.

“The development and implementation of the projects for the development of ecological and ethno-cultural tourism in the areas where the indigenous minorities of the North live help major companies operating in the Russian Arctic to build mutually beneficial relationships with the communities of the indigenous minorities of the North. Providing support to the indigenous communities is a necessary element of the ESG-strategy, because the representatives of the indigenous minorities of the North are the permanent population in the areas of industrial development, and they are the most vulnerable groups.

The improvement of ecological trails and tourist routes, viewing platforms, places for watching wild animals and birdwatching, the creation of new and modernization of the existing museums, visit-centres help create jobs and preserve the traditional culture of indigenous peoples,” Vorotnikov explained.

The “CHALLENGES 2030. Sustainable Development of Regions” conference was held on July 7 at the International Multimedia Press Centre (IMPC) “Russia Today” in Moscow. The organizer of the conference was the Russian Managers Association jointly with the Expert Council for Sustainable Development of the Financial Market Committee at the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.