The entrepreneur pointed to the growing popularity of ecotourism in Russia

Russians are increasingly choosing trips where the main value is not all—inclusive hotels. Ecotourism in Russia has become a rapidly growing trend, attracting more and more people who want to relax in nature. Vasily Zhayvoronok, an entrepreneur and owner of alpaca farms, told Izvestia about this on August 15.

"Ecotourism is not just a vacation. These are journeys that leave behind a clean path, not a mountain of plastic cups. The essence of such a vacation is simple. It is important to discover new places, minimally interfering with the ecosystem, and sometimes even helping to preserve it," he said.

As Zhayvoronok emphasized, this is not a novelty for Russians at all. It is enough to recall the Soviet vacation as "savages", with tents on the riverbank, bonfires and songs under the stars. Only now have comfortable campgrounds, solar panels and hot showers been added to this, as well as a more conscious attitude towards the planet.

Today, the share of ecotourism in the total Russian tourism market is less than 2%. At the same time, the World Tourism Organization considers our country to be one of the most promising territories for the development of this area.

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"But there are also problems. This is a lack of infrastructure, information, and ready-made routes. However, the situation has been changing in recent years. Closed borders and government support were a good boost. And for the ecotourism development business, it's a profitable story. You can build an eco—house for 700 thousand rubles, which is almost three times cheaper than a regular tourist house, and you can rent it out for the same money," the expert explained.

In his opinion, rural tourism provides a unique opportunity to take a break from the fast pace of urban life, enjoy the silence and smell the freshly mown hay. Every year more and more people begin to appreciate this experience. Guests are offered accommodation on farms or in ancient farmsteads, the opportunity to taste local products, participate in harvesting, mushrooms and berries, as well as horseback riding. In addition, you can gain hands-on experience caring for animals, including alpacas.

"A separate story is children's ecotourism. More and more farmsteads are holding workshops for children, from baking bread to blacksmithing. And the main thing is that on such a trip, the child learns to respect nature not from a textbook, but from his own experience," the entrepreneur added.

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Zhayvoronok is convinced that ecotourism in all its varieties provides tourists with what is especially needed by a modern person overloaded with work and information.

"On such a trip, you can stay alone with nature, but without losing comfort, relieve social and informational noise, try healthy lifestyle in the field, see the world from a different perspective, even if it's just a neighboring area, and finally forget about your smartphone for at least a couple of days," the expert listed.

He also called for responsible ecotourists. This means that it is important not to leave any traces behind. Ecotourism is not only a vacation, but also a kind of tribute to nature and the people who created the conditions for an unforgettable adventure, concluded Zhayvoronok.

Earlier, on June 17, it was reported that interest in student tourism had increased by one and a half times. The Ministry of Education and Science clarified that since the beginning of 2025, 57 thousand participants have registered in the Studtourism program.

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