National Tourism Policy in the Russian Far East

In modern geopolitical conditions, tourism development in the Far East is included in Russia’s strategic agenda. At the state level, a set of unprecedented measures aimed at developing the tourism industry in the macroregion has been launched. This article examines the specifics of implementing the federal agenda for the integrated development of tourism in the Far East with a case study of the Republic of Buryatia, located in the Baikal Natural Territory and part of the Far Eastern Federal District since 2018. The article presents the key measures of state tourism policy with respect to the Far East, the main directions and mechanisms of state regulation, and support of tourism in the Republic of Buryatia. It is shown the territorial structure of tourist and recreational activities in the region is changing. The research is based on legislative and regulatory documents, national projects and state programs, scientific publications, information and statistical data from various official sources at the federal and regional levels, and Internet sources. The results of the study indicate that the Republic of Buryatia is actively improving its own regional policy for tourism development, using new approaches and progressive instruments of state support. Tourism in Buryatia has recovered from the COVID shock and is developing quite successfully in the conditions of modern reality. This confirms not only the priority Far Eastern vector of tourism, but also the sufficiency of the efforts of the region, which actively participates in all competitive selections for federal financial support. At the same time, a significant increase in the number of accommodation facilities and tourist flow without insufficient consideration of environmental factors in investment and economic activities may result in increased environmental degradation. The article proposes measures to improve tourism policy in line with the strategic objectives of tourism development in the Republic of Buryatia and preservation of the unique Lake Baikal ecosystem

China · Geopolitics · Legislature · Recreation · The Republic · Tourism · Regional Economic Development and Innovation · Soil and Environmental Studies · Water Resources and Management