Victoria Quiri
European Bureau Chief, Strasbourg 
New tourist and recreational clusters will be created in Russian regions.
Projects aimed at the development of ecotourism will be created by the winners of the All-Russian competition, which is supported by four relevant departments: the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, and the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation.
According to the organizers of the competition, the teams that made it to the final will create “packaged products” - ready for sale - with economically sound master plans for tourism and recreation clusters in specially protected natural areas and adjacent areas. Further, these projects will be presented to potential investors and experts of relevant ministries and departments.
Among the winners of the competition announced by the selection committee:
TRC «Heart of Bashkiria», the Republic of Bashkortostan, Volga Federal District
The Heart of Bashkiria includes the Zilim Regional Nature Park, the Bashkiria National Park of Federal Significance, Mount Tratau, the Tolparovsk fir-groves, the Kinderlinskaya - Ledneva - Oktyabrskaya Cave System, Lake Tugar-Salgan, the Askyn Ice Cave.
Within the framework of the project the government of the region will create roads, visit centers, attractions, accommodation facilities and food outlets. Travelers will be able to make up their own route scenario, which can take from 2 to 10 days.
It is expected that the implementation of the project will increase the tourist flow up to 450 thousand people, create more than 300 new jobs, as well as increase the number of cultural events and other activities by 10 times.
Investments in the project, according to the competition presentation, are estimated at 2.2 billion rubles until 2025, including 1.5 billion rubles from extra-budgetary sources.
TRC "Tunkinskaya Dolina", the Republic of Buryatia, Siberian Federal District
Local authorities intend to increase the tourist flow up to 1 million people per year without harming the environment. The program is designed for 10 years. It is planned to equip the infrastructure to attract tourists, including transit ones, visiting Lake Khovsgul in neighboring Mongolia.
The allocated funds will be used to support the Arshan resort, the Nilova Pustyn municipal hospital, the construction of treatment facilities, the creation of waste processing facilities, and the construction of roads. Within the framework of the project, camping sites will be erected, more than 1,000 km of ecological paths on the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park, and eco-paths in the Shumak protected mountain complex.
For the implementation of the project, it is planned to attract about 8 billion rubles, half of which come from extra-budgetary sources.
TRC "Kamskoe Ustye", the Republic of Tatarstan, Volga Federal District
The area includes Kamskoye Ustye, the villages of Krasnovidovo and Maloe Meritkozino, Tenishevo, Kuibyshevsky Zaton, the village of Kirelskoye. The eco-resort will unite two specially protected natural areas: Yuryevskaya Cave (the only cave on the Middle Volga) and Lobach Mountain - an observation deck at an altitude of 136 meters. The cluster overlooks the widest confluence of European rivers - the Volga and Kama.
Within the framework of the project, which will be implemented over the next two years, it is planned to create 82 km of eco-trails and new routes, as well as a camping area under the starry sky.
The creators of the project hope that the original culture of the local population with their holidays, ensembles and craft workshops, not to mention the beach, camping and glamping areas, will cause great interest among tourists. Visitors will also be offered walks through the vineyards and tasting of local products.
TRC "Gornaya Khakassia", the Republic of Khakassia, Siberian Federal District
The territory of Khakassia is covered with mountains, rather, even highlands and untouched taiga. The project includes the territory of the federal reserve "Pozarym", the natural park "Marankulsky", the village of Bolshoy On.
The creation of objects of tourist attraction and recreation here is being worked out, which will be of interest to a wide variety of groups of tourists - from experienced tourist and sports groups to adventure lovers and traveling families.
The project will be completed within 5 years (until 2025). The development of the infrastructure of the cluster will take place in several stages. A visit center, entrance lobbies, ecological trails, observation platforms, as well as accommodation, food and roadside service facilities will be created on the territory.
Shopping and entertainment complex
TRC "Zapovednaya Kamchatka: Land of People, Volcanoes and Salmon", the Kamchatka Territory, Far Eastern Federal District
As part of the project, a tourist infrastructure will be created in Kamchatka within an area of almost 336 hectares.
The goal of the project is to make the southern part of the peninsula accessible for tourism, or rather the South Kamchatka reserve, within which the Kuril Lake is located - the main pearl of this territory. For this, new roads will be built on the peninsula. Now it is possible to get here only by helicopter.
It is expected that by 2030 the region will attract up to 33 thousand tourists annually.
In addition, according to experts, the region should become a center for the development of greenhouse and agriculture, fishing, geothermal energy. Therefore, the project included such settlements as the villages of Pauzhetka and Ozernovsky. The necessary infrastructure will be created in these settlements, as well as in the settlements of Teply and Shumny, including well-equipped recreation centers and pools with thermal water.
The project "Reserved Kamchatka: the land of people, volcanoes and salmon" will enable to create about 500 jobs.
TRC "Land of the Leopard", the Primorsky Krai, Far Eastern Federal District
The project includes the territory of the Khasansky district, where the National Park "Land of the Leopard", the reserve "Kedrovaya Pad", the Far Eastern Marine Reserve, the natural park Khasansky, the “Yasnoye” therapeutic mud deposit are located.
In particular, at least 11 ecotrails and ecoroutes outside the boundaries of the specially protected natural area will appear in the territory. In addition, the authorities intend to deal with the development of popular natural, historical and cultural sites.
According to the plan, by 2025 the territory will be able to receive up to 1.5 million tourists a year while ensuring the preservation and safety of natural attractions. The share of small and medium-sized businesses providing services in the field of hospitality and tourism will increase by 40%.
The total investment in the project stands at almost 820 million rubles. The project is expected to help increase the tourist flow from 938 thousand people in 2019 to 1.5 million people in 2025.
TRC "Bolshaya Valdai trail", the Novgorod region, Northwestern Federal District
The Great Valdai Trail is the longest ecotrail in Russia, passing through the entire Valdai National Park, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The projected cluster is located in the Valdai, Okulovsky, Borovichsky, Demyansky and Krestetsky districts. This project is expected to help to increase tourist flow to the region by 3.2 times.
Despite the fact that the Valdaysky National Park became the basis of the cluster, in addition to it, the project included such natural monuments as the Waterfall of the Ponerotka River Mouth, Piros Lake Water Landscape Monument, Bobrovskie Gory, Dendrological park in the village of Opechensky Posad, Borovichi district, "Lake Gvestyanitsa" and other operating and planned specially protected natural areas.
60 new tourism entities will be built in the territory of the cluster. In addition, in the future, roads and new exits outside the territory of the region will be built as well allowinf tourists to access more difficult routes.
TRC "Samarskaya Luka", the Samara region, Volga Federal District
Samarskaya Luka is one of the main business cards of the region.
The goal of the project is to increase the tourist flow up to 1.6 million people a year.
Now the territory of the reserve has hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails. They run along the banks of the Volga, forest lakes, inhabited by Red Book species of plants and animals.
TRC "Laguna Busse", the Sakhalin Region, Far Eastern Federal District
The Laguna Busse cluster includes such symbols of the region as the Aniva lighthouse, as well as the Ptichiy cape with its rocky arches, turquoise lakes and other unique natural attractions which are already popular among tourists.
TRC "Romantsevskie Gory", the Tula region, Central Federal District
"Romantsevskie mountains" are also called "Konduki". They are located in the Uzlovsky district of the Tula region.
The cluster is supposed to include observation platforms, beaches; camping areas will be equipped, lighting will be installed, rental points will be organized and bike paths will be laid. The project is planned to be implemented in three stages by the end of 2023.
At the first stage, a special cluster for family recreation will be created - children will be able to spend time in a rope park, while adults will go boating or fishing from the pier.
At the second stage, which will be completed in 2021, campgrounds, glempings, public transport routes will be opened in the territory of the cluster, and food zones will be expanded. In addition, the project plan includes the construction of guest houses and ecohotels.
In the third phase, a garden with landscape sculptures will be erected, living areas will be expanded, an open-air farm with animals will be opened and a park of art objects will be built. There are plans to design bath and spa complexes, hot air balloon rides programs.
The volume of investments is estimated at 2.2 billion rubles, including 1.6 billion rubles from extra-budgetary sources.
The organizer of the competition is the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). Operator - Agency for Strategic Development «CENTER».
The following projects have been announced as winners of the All-Russian competition for the creation of tourist and recreational clusters and the development of ecotourism in Russia:
"Heart of Bashkiria", the Republic of Bashkortostan, Volga Federal District
"Tunkinskaya Dolina", the Republic of Buryatia, Siberian Federal District
"Kamskoe Ustye», the Republic of Tatarstan, Volga Federal District
"Gornaya Khakassia", the Republic of Khakassia, Siberian Federal District
Shopping and entertainment complex "Zapovednaya Kamchatka: Land of People, Volcanoes and Salmon", the Kamchatka Territory, Far Eastern Federal District
"Land of the Leopard", the Primorsky Krai, Far Eastern Federal District
"Bolshaya Valdai trail", the Novgorod region, North-Western Federal District
"Samarskaya Luka", the Samara region, Volga Federal District
"Laguna Busse", the Sakhalin Region, Far Eastern Federal District
"Romantsevskie Gory", the Tula region, Central Federal District
Projects marked by the nomination «Territory of Prospective Development»:
"Chernye Zemli", the Republic of Kalmykia, Southern Federal District,
"Cluster Muromsky", the Republic of Karelia, North-West Federal District
"Tourist and recreational cluster of prospective development - Mezhdurechensk", the Kemerovo region, Siberian Federal District
"Gora Belaya", the Sverdlovsk region, Ural Federal District
“Smolenskoe Poozerie. Origins of Russia ", the Smolensk region, Central Federal District
"Paustovsky", the Ryazan region, Central Federal District
In the nomination "Winner of the popular vote" the first was:
"Vysokogorskiy", the Republic of Tatarstan, Volga Federal District
