This paper discusses the opportunities offered by public–private partnerships in developing ecotourism infrastructure in protected areas. The paper also addresses the issues contributing to threats and conflicts while implementing infrastructure projects. In order to fulfil research objectives, the authors employ a sociological instrument. Using a snowball method, the authors selected 34 experts with professional competencies in tourism development, natural resource management, protected area management, and public-private partnerships. The results of this study demonstrate a potential demand for the mechanisms of public-private partnerships when developing ecotourism infrastructure. Using the case study of Tunkinsky National Park, the authors identified potential threats and conflicts in the process of preparation and delivery of public-private partnership projects for ecotourism infrastructure development.
The topic of ecotourism is now more relevant than ever, both in Russia and around the world. Despite the existence of well-known world practices of creating a variety of ecotourism products and services compatible with the goals of conservation of natural territories, Russia still has a long way to go to turn ecotourism into alternative form of recreation that contributes to the environmental and socio-economic development in the Russian regions. The article discusses the methodological approaches, experiences, and results of the All-Russian competition organized to identify pilot ecotourism areas, where tourist and recreational clusters (TRCs) may be developed through implementation of the combined potential of nature protection areas and adjacent territories. The research database includes the competition documents and regional projects published on the website https://priroda.life. The paper presents the goals, objectives, stages and features of the competition, regional strategies for participation in the competition, and the best projects. Moreover, the study identifies the key challenges for the development of ecotourism in natural areas. It shows that the process of involving Russian protected areas (PAs) in ecotourism is more than one-step action, that requires a systematic approach to advancement of tourism-and-recreational clusters jointly with the development of natural and adjacent territories.
Recently studies of factors affecting the successful operation of small-scale accommodation facilities have expanded significantly. Mandatory classification of hotels and other accommodation facilities is one of the key factors to increase their competitiveness. However, there are few works studying the problems of classifying small-scale accommodation facilities in conditions of infrastructural restrictions in environmentally sensitive areas. Therefore, the factors affecting the functioning of small-scale accommodation facilities in territories with environmental restrictions are discussed in this study in the context of the mandatory classification of hotels and other accommodation facilities in the Russia. The research uses the case of Enkheluk village’s guest houses (Russian Federation, Republic of Buryatia). Primary data obtained during the interviews with local entrepreneurs in 2018 was used in the study. The main infrastructural restrictions influencing the entrepreneurs providing temporary tourists’ accommodation were revealed: in the field of water supply, wastewater disposal, passing an environmental assessment. These problems, having a dynamic and interconnected nature, constrain the passing of mandatory classification by small-scale accommodation facilities. Possible ways of solving these problems are formulated. The study’s results can serve as the basis for further studies of factors affecting entrepreneurial and investment activities in the field of accommodation in environmentally sensitive areas.
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