The Gordian Knot: when the Far East is waiting for a powerful tourist influx
The tourism industry of the Far East is planned to be radically transformed by 2035. The development of an appropriate comprehensive program has begun in the Ministry of Regional Development, the Russian government told Izvestia. This large-scale undertaking is aimed at creating and updating tourist routes, developing infrastructure and attracting investments. Izvestia investigated how to solve the issue of transport accessibility in the region and the preservation of its unique natural heritage, as well as whether North Korea could become a gateway to the East.
Map of transport solutions: the path to the discovery of the Far East
Transport accessibility is the main hub hindering the development of the tourist potential of the Far East. The main difficulties are the huge distances, the high cost of air travel and complex logistical routes. Lyudmila Talabayeva, a senator from Primorsky Krai, told Izvestia about this.
— Huge distances, high cost of air travel and railway crossings, logistical complexity of land routes — all this has been holding back the enormous tourist potential of the Far Eastern regions for decades. Therefore, the new tourism development program until 2035 should be built primarily around a radical solution to this problem," explains the senator.
Among the possible solutions are the modernization of existing railway tracks (BAM and Transsib) so that trains can run at speeds of 160-200 km/h and the launch of comfortable premium and medium—class tourist trains with a focus on domestic and more mass tourists. Routes should be shorter, with stops at key points, and it's important to integrate them into local sightseeing programs, she says.
Right now, targeted measures are coming to the fore: the creation of a single airline in the macroregion and the introduction of a Single Ticket system with guaranteed connections and fixed fares.
— A Single ticket allows a tourist to buy one ticket from Moscow, St. Petersburg or another major city to their final destination in the Far East (for example, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky or Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), and the state guarantees them a connection to a domestic flight at a discounted or fixed cost. This will encourage the use of local airlines, the development of small aircraft and an increase in the frequency of flights," explains the senator.
Complementing this position, Albert Bakhtizin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Central Economic and Mathematical Institute (CEMI RAS), focuses on the need to integrate air, rail and sea transportation.
— The transport isolation of the Far East is the main brake on the development of tourism. And to solve this problem, an integrated approach is important, providing for subsidizing air travel and integrating various modes of transport into affordable travel packages. This kind of support is actively used in many countries. For example, in the United States, there is a federal Essential Air Service program for small and remote settlements," the expert explains.
Marina Merezhko, CMWP partner in the field of hospitality and tourism, clarifies that the approval of flight programs is only the first step.
— Next, we need to coordinate the schedules of urban and suburban public transport so that tourists can travel considerable distances on their own without getting stuck for hours at departure points. Finally, it is important to bring key highways to a standard state, equip them with rest points and ensure stable mobile communications," she explains.
How to overcome prejudices about Russia
The formation of a positive image of Russia is perhaps one of the key tasks in the context of global competition for the attention of tourists, explains Bakhtizin.
— Research and observations show that, unfortunately, there remains a wariness in the mass consciousness of foreign travelers because of the ideas about domestic crime and an unfavorable street environment that are fueled in the media, - says the expert.
However, objective indicators show a different picture: in comparison with other countries, Russia is relatively safe for tourists.
— The advantages of our country can be enhanced by expanding ties with Asian neighbors. For example, North Korea is gradually expanding the gates to deepen Russia's cooperation with the East," adds Albert Bakhtizin.
Izvestia sent inquiries to the Ministry of Regional Development, the office of Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev, as well as to the press service of the Ministry of Transport and the office of the Minister of Transport of Russia.
Investment Magic
The tasks of building a modern tourist infrastructure imply significant financial investments that require detailed consideration of the mechanisms for attracting investors, according to the state corporation "Tourism.RF". Today, six major infrastructure projects are already being implemented that will expand the number of rooms by more than 4 thousand places and will allow to receive up to 1.5 million tourists annually.
— The projects are being implemented in partnership with both federal hotel chains and large investors with the strategic participation of Tourism.The Russian Federation", comprehensively applies all available support measures, federal and regional: tax and loan benefits, construction of supporting infrastructure, direct state investments, " the corporation's press service explains.
Marina Merezhko also considers subsidies to be a significant help.
— In the Far East, the cost of construction is higher, and products with goods, and personnel costs. An additional burden was the high cost of engineering networks and structures. Appropriate targeted subsidies would be very useful. In the operational phase, it is advisable to consider tax breaks for the first years of work," she believes.
The allocation of land plots without bidding, simplification and acceleration of procedures for changing categories and lifting unreasonable restrictions from protected areas are also becoming an important tool, said Christopher Konstantinidi, First Vice-president of the National Union of the Hospitality Industry (OSIG).
— The transport component is 35-40% of the cost of a tourist product, and in the case of the Far East, the share can reach 60-70%. It is necessary that the dynamic pricing of air carriers does not "eat up" the entire effect and that public money is not used for this. It is necessary to lay flat fixed tariffs in the context of seasonality, and the creation of a specialized state-owned airline for these tasks may become a deliberately bankrupt project," the expert believes.
Ecology and tourism: the balance on which the future of the region rests
Albert Bakhtizin notes that the Russian natural environment is much more interesting and safer than in many other regions of the Earth: we clearly have all four seasons, and there are fewer dangerous insects compared to the tropics or the Amazon forests.
Sour creek near the village of Goryachy beach on the island of Kunashir in the Great Kuril Ridge
Preserving the unique nature of the Far East is both a key challenge and a competitive advantage for the tourism industry. The Ministry of Tourism of Primorsky Krai offers comprehensive innovative management aimed at sustainable development and environmental safety.
"The balance will be ensured through ecological innovative tourism: projects to reduce environmental impacts, the development of sustainable tourism management, innovative green projects, cooperation with environmental authorities and volunteer organizations, support for specially protected natural areas for scientific, educational and ecological tourism," the ministry explains.
Anna Narab, Deputy Director for Ecological Tourism at the Kronotsky State Nature Reserve, recalls that the key principle of tourism development is sustainability and the preservation of fragile ecosystems.
—The balance is achieved not by restricting access, but by properly regulating it and creating a modern, gentle infrastructure. We are talking about educational ecological tourism, introducing you to the unique nature and fostering a responsible attitude. In the Valley of Geysers of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, for example, thousands of visitors see the wonder of nature thanks to wooden floors that exclude trampling of the soil and disturbance of the landscape, she explains.
Lighthouse at the extreme point of the Yuzhnokurilsky cape on the Pacific Ocean
The infrastructure must take on the anthropogenic load, minimizing damage to nature, and it is consistent adherence to this principle that will ensure the success of the program, says Anna Narab.
If ecotourism in protected areas is properly organized, it turns from an enemy into a tool for nature conservation, confirms Maria Kulikova, Deputy Director of the Russian Environmental Science Center.
— In addition, it is important to competently integrate the local population into the activities of the protected area. If it becomes economically profitable for local residents to cooperate with a nature reserve or national park, they become ambassadors for the protection of their native nature," explains Maria Kulikova.
Head of the "Popular Front. Analyst Olga Pozdnyakova recalls that it is important to consolidate the concept of "eco-tourism" with an emphasis on the principle of "Do no harm!".
"The Law on Protected Areas defines tourism in specially protected natural areas as temporary trips to visit unique natural complexes," she explains.
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