Potential for Winter Recreation and Ecotourism in Valdai National Park

The article discusses the prospects of growth of the tourist flow in Novgorod oblast and directly in Valdai National Park with the development of winter sports and tourism, expansion of the range of recreational services, and active ecological tourism in a year-round format. The increase in the tourist flow in the region is associated with the improvement of the transport and recreational infrastructure of the national park, as well as with changes in natural (climatic) conditions. According to the authors’ observations and data from the Valdai Branch of the State Hydrological Institute in 2000–2024, Valdai experienced a slight increase in average annual and winter temperatures and precipitation during the calendar winter (December–February). The observed global warming makes local climatic conditions favorable for the development of winter sports, tourism, and recreation: a relatively mild and quite snowy winter, stable snow cover for about 4 months, and a very long period with negative temperatures (also more than 4 months). Along the banks of rivers and lakes, there are slopes suitable for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding, and in the forests and open spaces, the conditions are favorable for cross-country skiing; winter tourist routes; horse, reindeer, and dog sledding; snowmobiles; etc. The park has a positive experience of active development of winter sports, environmental education and recreation. It is shown that the aggregate recommended winter recreation and winter formats of ecological tourism on the territory of the park can include the functioning of permanent ecological trails and excursion routes on the topic of “winter” (“snow”) ecology, student and volunteer internships, participation in winter censuses of large mammals and birds based on tracks in snow, winter fishing, and birdwatching, as well as photo hunting, which will become an example of “citizen science” and ecological and educational events of the winter cycle of Valdai National Park

Climate change · Ecotourism · National park · Precipitation · Recreation · Snow · Tourism · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Soil and Environmental Studies · Water Resources and Management