Commodities and Services Market
Tourism

The branch of tourism becomes more and more important in the sphere of rendered services.

Activity of the Government of the republic in 2003 in the field of tourism was aimed to preserve positive dynamics of development of the branch, to attract investments to the tourist infrastructure, increase the number of workplaces, tax receipts, preserve and use rationally cultural and natural heritage of Karelia.

In 2003 the republican target program Development of tourism in the Republic of Karelia in 2003-2006 was realized. Almost all events planned for the first year of the program were perfomed. For its realization more than 1,4 million roubles was allocated from the republican budget. Backwardness of a tourist infrastructure, especially hotel facilities is the major factor constraining development of tourism in the republic. The given problem has been solved in 2003, basically, due to attraction of internal private investments.

In many districts of the republic business initiative became more active in the field of creation of tourist infrastructure. Treatment-and-improving centre Marcial Waters for 114 visitors and comfortable tourist complex Guargarica on the coast of Janisjarvi lake for 35 visitors are set in operation, construction of Kuzova hotel complex in Kem for 80 visitors is completed, the tourist complex Prichal has been expanded up to 120 places for visitors, the tourist complex of Vika Open Company on the bank of Panajarvi lake is under construction.

The investors received organizational and methodological support regarding business planning, land tenure, crediting. The volume of investments in the infrastructure of tourism of the republic in 2003 has made about 200 million roubles and has 29% exceeded the level of 2002. International and inter-regional cooperation under conditions of deficiency of internal sources of development of the branch is an effective mechanism of resource maintenance of the state regulation of tourism.

Through TACIS international program such projects as Natural Tourism as the tool of Development of Muezersky District and Protection of Nature, Development of Rural Tourism on the Basis of use of Natural and Cultural Resources, The project on Development of Products and Marketing of Cultural and natural Tourism 'Four Seasons in Kalevala' were realized in 2003.

Within the framework of agreements on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation with regions of Russia signed by the Government of the Republic of Karelia close cooperation in the field of tourism with the governments of Moscow, Leningrad, Murmansk, and Vologda areas, administrations of Saint Petersburg and the Archangelsk area is maintained.

Creation of positive tourist image of the republic is promoted by its participation in the international exhibitions. In 2003 the republic performed the uniform stand at the following exhibitions: MITT (Moscow), MITF (Moscow), INWETEX (Saint Petersburg), WTM (London).

In September of 2003 the first Hunting and fishing specialized exhibition was held in Petrozavodsk. In November the IVth Republican specialized exhibition Karelia Turistskaya - 2003 was held, and gathered the record number of participants (254). Within the framework of the exhibition the representative international seminar Theory and Practice of Development of Tourism in the Northwest Russia was held.

The Information Tourist Centre of the Republic of Karelia works, the information on the tourist Internet portal that promotes Karelian tourist products and investment projects on the Russian and international markets of services is being constantly updated.

In 2003 development and perfection of the multilevel system of continuous tourist education created in the republic has been continued. At present in eight institutions of the republic which accomplish training of experts in the sphere of tourism as additional, average special and higher education, more than 1 200 students have either graduated or continue their studies.

Summarizing results of the Karelian Tourist Business Leaders of 2003 contest, the IInd Republican competition of tourist organizations and the private businessmen engaged in tourist business in the Republic of Karelia, was dated for celebrating the World Day of Tourism (September 27, 2003).

The government of the Republic of Karelia together with the Institute of Economics of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Science has completed the next stage of research in the field of tourism on Economic Monitoring of Tourist and Recreational Potential of the Republic of Karelia and the Real Level of Its Use. Performance of the given work will allow better evaluation of cumulative economic benefit of development of tourism in Karelia.

Inflow of tourists to all basic tourist objects of the republic has increased. On the estimated data the general number of visitors of the Republic of Karelia in 2003 has made more than 1,4 million people, having 5% exceeded the level of 2002, 320 thousand persons of them are served by tour agencies of the republic (21.7% of the total number of visitors).

The number of businessmen and organizations which have received licenses of tourist operators or tourist angencies has increased up to 108 (compared to 77 in 2002), 75 of them develop entrance tourism as priority orientation in work .

Kizhi museum reserve has received and served 170 thousand visitors (147 thousand people in 2002). The flow of tourists to the islands of Valaamsky archipelago has increased in 2003 up to 90 thousand tourists and pilgrims (81 thousand in 2002). Thenumber of the tourists who have visited national Vodlozersky and Panajarvi parks has increased.

The total amount of rendered tourist and excursion services has made 114 million roubles (18.6% more than in 2002). Within this year the tourist organizations have transferred about 13 million roubles of taxes in budgets of all levels. Besides the volume of hotel services has grown 19% and has made 118 million roubles.

In 2004 work on development of the branch will be aimed to realization of the republican target program Development of tourism in the Republic of Karelia in 2003-2006, creation of conditions for increase of the contribution of tourism into economy of the republic, improvement of quality of service rendered on tourist routes, development of infrastructure.