Silk Road Seminar for the Russian regions at Intourmarket 2017

Silk Road Seminar for the Russian regions at Intourmarket 2017

12 March 2017, Moscow, Intourmarket

The seminar is jointly organised by the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation and the UNWTO Silk Road programme with support of Intourmarket 2017

According to a recent study conducted by the world's largest travel website, TripAdvisor, for UNWTO, over 80% of the global travelers are aware of the Silk Road. At the same time, Forbes magazine identified the Silk Road as one of the most powerful brands currently available.

Russian regions, with their diverse Silk Road heritage, natural and cultural attractions, gastronomy and intangible traditions, are in a great position to leverage from this momentum. By developing innovative tourism products they can directly appeal to the modern traveler in search for authentic experiences.

The seminar proved an excellent platform to exchange and showcase good practices. Rich gastronomy, natural splendour and intangible heritage were identified as key elements that will drive the development of Silk Road tourism within Russia.

As to an important meeting conclusion, participants agreed to continue to work together towards establishing a trans-regional cooperation framework for the Russian regions on the Silk Road, an objective to be followed-up at the International Conference on the Gastronomic Routes of the Silk Road to be held in the city of Astrakhan, Russia, on 14-16 July 2017.

The UNWTO Silk Road Programme is a collaborative initiative designed to enhance sustainable tourism development along the historic Silk Road routes. It aims to maximize the benefits of tourism development for local Silk Road communities, while stimulating investment and promoting the conservation of the route's natural and cultural heritage.

Currently the Silk Road Programme engages 33 UNWTO Members States, UN agencies, UNWTO Affiliate Members, as well as an extensive network of private sector stakeholders. The 7th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force meeting will be held in Valencia, Spain on 30-31 March 2017.

Presentations of the experts:

Progress on the UNWTO Silk Road Programme, by Ms. Alla Peressolova, Head of UNWTO Silk Road Programme;

Results of the Western Silk Road brand research: new opportunities for Russian regions, Mr. Gavin Bell, Tourism Consultant and responsible for elaborating the Western Silk Road Handbook;

Good practices of a successful European thematic route and the mechanisms of its governance, Mr. Luca Bruschi, Director, EAVF - Association of Via Francigena, the Council of Europe Cultural Route; international relations officer of the European Cultural Route of the European Historic Thermal Towns, Italy;

Potential of gastronomy tourism for Russian regions, Mr. Leonid Gelibterman, President of the International Center of Wine and Gastronomy;

Challenges and opportunities of creation a trans-border tourist Silk Road in North-Caucasian Federal District, Mr. Stanislav Aristov, Adviser, Ministry of the Russian Federation for North Caucasus;

Development of a thematic route on the example of "The Great Tea Road", Mr Alexandr Lvov, Vice Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Russian Railway RZD;

Presentations of the Russian regions:

Astrakhan Region, Ms. Galina Zoteeva, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Astrakhan Region, Minister of Culture and Tourism;

Republic of Dagestan, Mr. Vitaliy Demchenko, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Tourism and Folk Art of the Republic of Dagestan;

Republic of Tatarstan, Mr. Sergey Ivanov, Chairman of the State Tourism Committee for Tatarstan;

Republic of Altai, Ms Tatyana Skurikhina, Head of the Department of Tourism, Recreation, Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism for Republic of Altai;

Republic of Buryatia, "The role of the city of Ulan-Ude in development of cross-border routes along the Silk Road and the Tea Route", Ms. Maria Badmatsyrenova, Deputy Chairman, Head of the Tourism Development Department, Committee for Economic Development and Tourism, Administration of Ulan-Ude

Part 1,

Part 2.

Presentations of neighbouring countries:

Republic of Kazakhstan, "Innovative approaches to the creation of a tourist product under the Silk Road brand in Kazakhstan" Ms. Rysta Karabaeva, President of the Capital Tourism Association, Astana, Kazakhstan;

Presentations of representatives of tour operators:

Mr. Alexander Druchenko, Director, "The Great Silk Road", South Ural, Chelyabinsk Region;

Additional informaiton:

Programme

Intourmarket 2017

Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation

2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

Photo Gallery