Winners of the Olympiad. Photo provided by the organizers of the event
More than 18,000 participants from all regions of Russia and 20 other countries competed for the title of the best at the All-Russian (with international participation) Service, Tourism, and Hotel Business Olympiad for Schoolchildren and Students. Forty-three participants became the winners. The award ceremony was held on September 27, World Tourism Day. The RGS traditionally acted as a partner of the Olympiad in the «Geography» category — four participants became prize-winners.
The geography of tourist routes, the analysis of travelers' flows, the location of attractions — these were the key topics at the All-Russian Service and Tourism Olympiad which was held for the eighth time. It was not just the knowledge of the map that was tested there — it was necessary to demonstrate the possession of practical skills that would be useful in real work. The contestants learned to understand the logic of tourist flows and analyze why some destinations are becoming popular and others are not. Special emphasis was placed on developing professional competencies: participants worked with modern educational cases and solved applied problems designed to meet current market demands.
The organizers set strategic objectives for the competition to train a talent pool for the tourism and hospitality industry. The event was organized by the autonomous non-profit organization for the development and popularization of professions «Khoroshee Delo» (eng. «Good Cause»).
Winners in the “Geography” category. Photo provided by the organizers of the event
The award ceremony was opened by the Chairman of the Olympiad, Head of the Department of Tourism and Service at the University under the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Eurasian Economic Community, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Rafik Mudarisov. He noted the significant contribution of the younger generation to the development of the industry and the importance of professional competitions for the formation of a talent pool. The winners were congratulated by Natalya Belyakova, a member of the expert commission of the Olympiad, Director of the Expeditionary and Tourism Development Department of the RGS.
«Year after year, by supporting the Olympiad, the RGS has for the first time acted as a strategic partner in the 'Geography’ category, helping talented students not only decide on a profession, but also gain practical competencies,» Natalya Belyakova said. «Olympiad questions are not just a test of geography knowledge, but an exercise in logic and ingenuity, requiring detailed answers, erudition and the ability to reflect. This is an excellent training before making an important choice — when you realize that you can not only know and love geography, but also connect your professional destiny with it.»
The Olympiad was held in two stages: a qualifying test and a final with theoretical questions, creative and practical tasks. All tasks comply with modern educational standards. Such competitions help to assess how ready a future specialist is for real tasks: to plan a route, analyze the market, or offer an interesting trip.
The Russian Geographical Society has become a strategic partner of the Olympiad, thus confirming its commitment to supporting talented youth and developing responsible tourism. The «Geography» category became the third most popular and in terms of the number of applications submitted. Each finalist received a well-deserved award and a certificate confirming the successful completion of the tests. All the winners are included in the state register of persons with outstanding abilities, which opens up new professional growth opportunities for them.