Tourism Development Commission

The Development Strategy of the Russian Geographical Society adopted in 2012 is based on a comprehensive geographical understanding of Russia and the world in all their diversity which contributes to the realization of the creative potential of our homeland and its citizens.

In this regard, the priority tasks of the Russian Geographical Society are:

• Popularization of the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of Russia as a matter of national pride;
• Attracting wide attention of the international and Russian public to the unique historical, cultural, and geographical sites of our country for the intensive development of tourism in Russia.

he Russian Federation has a high tourism and recreational potential; unique natural and recreational resources, objects of national and international cultural and historical heritage are concentrated on its territory; important economic, sports, and cultural events are taking place here. The historical, cultural, and natural heritage of Russia is the most important competitive advantage of the country's tourism industry. As of 2014, about 500 historical cities, more than 140,000 historical and cultural monuments, of which 25,000 are objects of federal significance, 108 museum reserves, 102 state nature reserves, 39 national parks, and 68 reserves of federal significance were registered in Russia. However, with the existing positive trends, the tourism and recreational potential of our country is currently underutilized. According to the World Tourism Organization, Russia can receive up to 70 million Russian and foreign tourists annually. Tourism and recreational activities in the Russian Federation are under reform and development.

Effective use of natural and cultural heritage sites for tourism and recreational purposes, popularization of the geographical, ethnocultural, and historical identity of our country is impossible without public participation. Therefore, the Russian Geographical Society sets itself the task of comprehensive research, tracking, and dissemination of information about the tourism and recreational opportunities of our homeland, the development of educational, including ecological, tourism, and the formation of a sense of patriotism. The Russian Geographical Society is able to unite people, support their education and creativity. In this regard, at the end of 2013, it was decided to create the Tourism Development Commission in the structure of the Russian Geographical Society, headed by the Honorary President of the Russian Geographical Society, Director of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Vladimir Mikhailovich Kotlyakov.

The main purpose of the Tourism Development Commission is the development of educational tourism based on the effective use of natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Russian Federation, the examination of projects, programs, and activities of the Society on this topic. For the effective work of the Commission, thematic sub-commissions are being created, whose activities are aimed at solving specific tasks: educational and awareness-raising activities, research and project activities, exhibition and publishing activities, youth work, sustainable tourism development, etc. The Tourism Development Commission consists of leading specialists and experts in the field of environmental protection and protection of objects of natural and cultural heritage of Russia, representatives of the largest regional branches of the Society, state, scientific, educational, and public organizations of the Russian Federation related to tourism and recreational activities.

The tasks and forms of work of the RGS’s Tourism Development Commission are reflected in the "Regulations on the Commission". The Commission works in accordance with the plan approved by the Society’s Governing Council.