The event held in St. Petersburg became a unique platform where advanced scientific research met real business practice. Over 150 representatives from the student community and industry experts participated. The forum was organized by the Faculty of Ecotechnologies of ITMO University and the ANO "Research Institute for Sustainable Development in Construction" (NIISD). A discussion dedicated to the use of information technologies in the natural tourism industry sparked particular interest. It was led by the Director of Sustainable Development of the Rosa Khutor resort, Dmitry Kolosov.
"Modern methods of digital modeling allow for a fairly accurate examination, and most importantly, forecasting of the development and state of tourism and recreational activities and the environment in a natural territory. Analyzing data on people's stay and movement to form dynamic models helps to effectively solve the tasks of designing and operating tourism infrastructure, operational activities, ensuring tourist safety, and the consequences of environmental impact. I am confident that this technology is the future of the travel industry to natural beauties," said Dmitry Kolosov.
Deputy Director of the Department of State Policy and Regulation in the Field of Development of Protected Areas of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Alexey Tikhnenko, emphasized that tourist flows to natural territories are growing year by year, therefore it is necessary to introduce a risk-oriented approach to environmental protection. It is important to quickly identify and respond to potential threats in a timely manner. This will allow for the protection of fragile ecosystems and continued enjoyment of nature in the safest possible conditions.
"The interests of investors are the foundation of any tourism project. It is necessary to create transparent rules that stimulate investment and also take into account environmental and social aspects. Only in this way can infrastructure be developed so that both business is profitable, tourists receive quality service, and nature is preserved," stated the Chief Expert of the Department of Engineering and Technical Support and Architecture of Tourism.rf, Elena Beletskaya.
The final part of the forum was an interactive session where young architects from SPbGASU presented two unique concepts. The "ESG Data Center" project demonstrated the idea of an energy-efficient data processing center harmoniously integrated into the residential environment with minimal impact on the surrounding nature. The second project, "Tourist Shelter," showcased a modular solution for eco-friendly and affordable recreation on natural trails. Experts provided practical recommendations for refining these ideas in the context of carbon footprint, social significance, and sustainability principles.
The outcome of the forum was a common understanding that deep interdisciplinary integration allows for the creation of real innovations in the field of ecotechnologies and requires direct cooperation with the scientific community.
"Without deep scientific expertise, it is easy to create a 'pretty picture' that in practice will be inconvenient or even harmful to nature and people. That is why we value the partnership with higher education institutions – it provides an understanding of how to create an environment where tourists can truly enjoy their vacation and preserve nature," emphasized the Director of ANO NIISD, Vera Burtseva.
Forum participants noted the need for closer interaction between universities, specialized companies, and government bodies to develop joint solutions for improving the quality of life and the careful use of natural resources. Earlier, Rosa Khutor and ITMO University signed a cooperation agreement to support the community of professionals and young specialists in the field of sustainable development.
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