Tatarstan intensifies work on rural tourism development
On June 4, a work meeting was held at the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan on the development of a pilot project of ecological and rural tourism in the north-eastern part of the republic. The event was held by Deputy Chairman of the Parliament Marat Akhmetov. Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Agriculture and Food of Tatarstan Marat Zyabbarov took part in the meeting.
The project covers 8 regions of the republic: Pestrechinsky, Sabinsky, Kukmorsky, Tyulyachinsky, Arsky, Atninsky, Baltasinsky and Vysokogorsky districts. In May, the working group held field meetings in six districts.
Marat Akhmetov noted that special attention is paid to the development of rural tourism. Thus, the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations declared 2020 the year of rural and ecological tourism. In May, the President of Russia announced the need to develop domestic tourism of the country, and instructed to develop routes attractive for tourists. At the federal level, a tourism development strategy has been developed until 2035. In Tatarstan, the Strategy of socio-economic development of the Republic of Tatarstan until 2030 is in force, in which rural tourism is designated as a breakthrough direction.
“Now more than ever it is relevant to study your republic, the historical aspects of its development,” said Marat Akhmetov. - Tatarstan has all the prospects for the development of rural tourism. It is necessary to actively engage in this work in order to make maximum use of the opportunities that are opening up for the republic. ”
Marat Akhmetov emphasized that only interested people can activate tourism development. At the same time, administrative resources and budget financing will not give the expected results without the involvement of entrepreneurs.
Farmer Akhmat Kotdusov, whose project - the ostrich farm "Tatar Ostrich" in the village of Yamashurma was recognized as the most successful in the republic, spoke at the meeting. More than 8 thousand people visit the farm annually.
The heads of the Sabinsky and Kukmorsky districts shared the experience of developing rural tourism in their territories. They note a marked increase in the number of tourists coming.
The chairman of the State Council Committee on Economics, Investments and Entrepreneurship Lutfulla Shafigullin urged to seriously engage in the infrastructure of villages that will be involved into the tourist routes.
The Chairman of the RT State Committee on Tourism Sergey Ivanov, commenting on the statement about the lack of staff, noted that the country has developed a training program for rural tourism, which is designed to fill this gap.
Participants discussed the experience of other regions of the country, as well as the Republic of Belarus, where the state provides substantial support to rural tourism entities.
Marat Zyabbarov noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan also plans to conduct systematic work on the development of rural tourism in the republic within existing programs of the ministry, including the popularization of this area.
Summing up, Marat Akhmetov focused on the importance of taking an inventory of all the facilities available in the areas that might interest tourists. As a result of this work, a register of rural and ecological tourism objects will be created.
According to him, the development of rural tourism should be considered as part of the great work to increase the business activity of the rural population, which is carried out annually under the leadership of the Chairman of the State Council Farid Mukhametshin.