Ministry of Culture
of the Russian
Federation
Federal Tourism Agency
(Rostourism)
Government of the
Republic of Buryatia
UN World Tourism
Organization
RESOLUTION
of the International Ecotourism Forum
“Ecotourism on Baikal +20”
Republic of Buryatia
Ulan-Ude
Pribaikalsky District, Turka
July 11-13, 2013
The International Ecotourism Forum “Ecotourism on Baikal +20” (“The
Forum”) was held on July 11-13, 2013 within the framework of the activities
dedicated to the Year of Environmental Protection in the Russian Federation and the
Year of Tourism in the Republic of Buryatia.
The Forum was conducted by the Federal Tourism Agency and the
Government of the Republic of Buryatia with support of the Ministry of Economic
Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian
Federation, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, the
Committee on Social Policy of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the
United Nations World Tourism Organization, the Global Environment Facility, and
the Inter-regional Associations “Siberian Accord” and “The Far East and the
Transbaikal Region”.
Representatives of federal and regional executive and legislative authorities
and local administrations, experts of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
and the Global Environment Facility, as well as representatives of international and
Russian tourism organizations, research and educational institutions, communitybased organizations, consulting companies, specially protected areas, and mass media
from 14 Russian regions (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, the Republics of Altai, Buryatia,
Khakassia, and Sakha (Yakutia), the Irkutsk, Kemerovo, and Novosibirsk Regions,
and the Altai, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Primorsky, and Zabaikalsky Krais) and 13
countries (the Czech Republic, China, France, Germany, Holland, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Poland, Spain, and the United
Kingdom) took part in the work of the Form.
Upon hearing reports and presentations of speakers representing the UNWTO,
UNDP-GEF, legislative and executive authorities, tourism businesses, research and
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educational institutions, and specially protected areas, participants of the Forum
emphasized the timeliness and urgency of discussing current trends of ecotourism
development, sharing experience, and learning the best practices of ecological
development, as well as elaborating and introducing ecotourism standards, innovative
technologies, alternative energy sources, and environmental education.
International tourism experience proves the importance of and the growing
demand for ecotourism. Participants of the Forum have supported the Resolution of
the General Assembly of the United Nations (dated December 21, 2012), which
recognizes ecotourism as an important element in the work to eradicate poverty,
protect the environment, and promote sustainable development.
The UNWTO experts point out that ecotourism, as a type of travel, is growing
at an annual rate of 20%, and that it is the foundation for sustainable tourism
development worldwide. The Forum’s events included presentations of the best
international practices in the organization of ecotourism activities, master classes on
the basics of eco-friendly life-styles by eco-coaches, and demonstrations of
successful ecotourism-related business cases from different countries and Russian
regions including ecotourism development in national parks, as well as rural,
gastronomic, and ethnographic tourism development. Using the examples of Russian
model reserves, participants of the Forum discussed the issues of implementing a
program aimed at creating ecotourism infrastructure.
Many experts drew attention to the necessity of using ecotourism technologies
and standards in all phases of designing, planning, building, and operating different
facilities. They also emphasized the necessity of considering environmental factors,
fostering a responsible attitude of the population towards the environment, and
preserving high recreational qualities of the region. All this is especially important in
environmentally vulnerable natural territories on Lake Baikal due to the following
reasons. Here, in the Baikal region, major investment projects, such as ‘The Baikal
Haven” (Republic of Buryatia) and “The Baikal Gate” (Irkutsk Region) are actively
being implemented. Moreover, the Republic of Buryatia has four tourism clusters that
are being developed under the Federal Program “Development of Domestic and
Inbound Tourism in the Russian Federation in 2011-2018”. Besides, there is a
continuous work to improve tourist routes across the region.
Ecotourism marketing and promotion drew significant attention as well.
Participants of the Forum stated that in the current conditions not only does
ecotourism help create a positive image of any territory, but it also forms a
responsible attitude towards the organization of recreational activities, protection of
natural and cultural heritage, eradication of poverty, and improvement of the quality
of life.
Participants of the Forum had an opportunity to learn about regional practices
of the organization of ecotourism activities by exploring eco-routes “Rafting on the
Turka”, “Tour to the Atsagat Valley”, Ethnic Tour “Visiting the Old Believers”,
“Tour to the Barguzin Valley”, “Tour to the Nerpa Rookery – the Ushkan Islands”,
and “Tour on Eco Trail (the Great Baikal Trail – Verkhnyaya Berezovka)”.
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At a roundtable entitled “Ecotourism Development: Initiatives and Partnerships
of Businesses, Society, and State”, which was organized with support of the UNDPGEF, participants discussed the current trends of ecotourism development in different
countries and Russian regions. They also addressed the issues of interaction of
businesses, society, and state aimed at promoting ecotourism, as well as the problems
and prospects of educational tourism development in specially protected areas and the
support of ecotourism by different projects of international foundations.
At a roundtable entitled “The Eastern Ring of Russia: Experience and
Prospects of Ecotourism Development”, participants discussed the issues of
developing international and inter-regional cooperation aimed at forming and
promoting tourism products based on the unique natural and cultural landmarks of the
Siberian and Far Eastern regions.
At a roundtable entitled “Prospect of Rural Tourism Development in the Baikal
Region”, participants, using business cases of rural tourism development in Latvia
and Lithuania, discussed the problems of involving local communities into
ecotourism activities as a basis of environmental conservation and increasing
economic benefits.
WHEREAS tourism not only provides people with an opportunity to get new
experiences and generates profits for tour companies, but it also significantly
contributes to sustainable regional development, participants of the Forum
RECOMMEND the following:
1.
Support the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations
“Promotion of Ecotourism for Poverty Eradication and Environment Protection”.
2.
Develop a set of measures to stimulate organizations that develop and
conduct cultural, historical, and educational ecotours across Russia, especially for
children, as well as for youth and people that require social help from the state.
3.
Improve laws and regulations of the Russian Federation concerning
the definition of the “guest house” as one of the main categories of accommodation
for eco-, ethnographic, rural, and nature tourism.
4.
Facilitate educational tourism development in specially protected areas;
support publication activities, as well as the development and implementation of
educational programs.
5.
Approve the implementation of the UNDP-GEF Project “Integrated
Natural Resource Management in the Baikal Basin Transboundary Ecosystem” aimed
at supporting ecotourism in specially protected areas.
6.
Regional and municipal authorities shall develop a marketing strategy to
create a positive image of the territory for the purpose of promoting ecotourism.
7.
Approve the Baikal International Ecotourism Forum as a platform for:
effective interaction of businesses and authorities; creating necessary conditions to
strengthen relationships between tour companies and organizations; promoting
regional tourism; and bringing together the goals and objectives of different countries
in the area of sustainable tourism development. Include this Forum into the calendar
of events supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the
Federal Tourism Agency.
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8.
Executive committees of the Inter-regional Associations “Siberian
Accord” and “The Far East and the Transbaikal Region” shall facilitate the creation
of inter-regional routes “The Eastern Ring of Russia” and “The Great Tea Road” as
the basis of the tourism industry in Eastern Russia and support the development of
ecotourism infrastructure.
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