Tourism

In the sphere of tourism development in 2008 the Government of Karelia was gradually completing tasks of creating highly effective and competitive tourist complex, forming developed tourist infrastructure in the republic.

With this purpose practical realization of the Master Plan of Distribution of Tourism Objects and Infrastructure in Karelia developed in 2007 was carried out. Data of the Master Plan were used at development of documents of territorial planning of municipal formations, Forest Plan of the Republic of Karelia that has allowed to liven up the parcellation for construction of tourism infrastructure objects.

Results of the Master Plan development are demanded at the federal level. On the basis of data presented by the Government of the Republic of Karelia with substantiation of competitive advantages of the republic the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation within the scope of completion of the draft Concept of long-term social and economic development of the Russian Federation through to 2020 (regarding regional development) has defined Karelia as territory of tourism priority development.

The developed Karelia Touristskaya complex project called to realize potential of the Republic of Karelia to the full was highly appreciated by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in June, 2008. The main idea of the project is increasing the tourist inflow in the republic due to development of tourist and accompanying infrastructure, maintenance of all-the-year-round access to the basic tourist objects.

Realization of the Development of tourism in the Republic of Karelia for the period through to 2010 regional target program proceeded. Performance of the program actions has allowed to keep positive dynamics of development of tourism, to increase contribution of the branch to economy of the republic, to provide commissioning of new objects of tourist inrastructure.

Assistance was rendered to administrations of municipal formations and tourist organizations of the republic in development of new tourist products and development of specialized kinds of tourism. At the support of the Government of Karelia administration of Petrozavodsk urban district has develped a program of increasing tourist attractiveness of the capital of Karelia within which scope in March, 2008 there passed the All-Russia meeting on reconciliation of passenger cruise ships navigation schedule for 2008. On results of the meeting for the first time in recent years it was possible to reach advancing dynamics of calls to Petrozavodsk in comparison with general dynamics of calls of cruise ships to Kizhi (16.5% of gain against 2.8% accordingly). In 17 municipal regions and urban districts of the republic there have been approved and are realized municipal target programs of development of tourism or corresponding sections in programs of social and economic development of municipal formations.

In 2008 Government of Karelia has prepared a negative response on the bills that assumed up to 150 million of roubles increase of annual financial guarantees in the sphere of the international tourism. Acceptance of these initiatives could have irreversible consequences for prospects of development of small regional travel agencies engaged in entrance tourism. Now 70 tourist companies from Karelia are included in the Uniform federal register of travel agencies.

Master-classes, seminars and practical training sessions have been held to teach inhabitants of Muezersky, Pryazha, Olonets, Louhi metropolitan regions to organization of tourist activity, information-educational tourist center in Louhi has been created. Together with the board of the Province of Oulu seminars on tourism security have been held in Byelomorsk, Kem, and the village of Juškozero.

With the purpose of increasing efficiency of participation in tourist exhibitions there has been made the Republic of Karelia's own mobile stand, the package of new presentation materials was prepared, including the guidebook on the Republic of Karelia in English, Karelia Touristskaya CD, booklets, Karelia Touristskaya magazine. Expositions of the Republic of Karelia have been presented at the largest international tourist exhibitions in Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Helsinki, Berlin.

Traditional specialized tourist exhibitions Karelia Touristskaya and Hunting and Fishing were held in Petrozavodsk. The Development of active kinds of tourism in the regions of Russia: practice, problems, prospects inter-regional meeting was held for the first time under the aegis of the Machinery of the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwest Federal District.

Tourist portal of the Republic of Karelia is being improved, in 2008 there appeared the interactive tourist map of the republic providing greater volume of the information for visitors of the republic and potential investors.

Great attention is paid to stimulation of quality of tourist service of in territory of the republic. There passed the Leaders of Karelian Tourist Industry competition which winners have received traditional incentives in the form of free-of-charge participation in the Intourmarketlargest international exhibition (Moscow).