Mikhail Yablokov

Tourism in Protected Areas

I was able to generalize and systematize disparate information on the relationship between tourism and nature conservation, rework and adapt foreign experience. The main thing is how to make sure that visitation of protected areas not only does not harm nature, but also contributes to its conservation, in other words, how to make tourism a tool for nature protection. Therefore, most of my projects are somehow related to tourism.

I gained the main experience while working in the Polistovsky Reserve, developing tourism, as they say, “from scratch”. There was an opportunity to participate in the preparation of texts for excursions, lead test groups, work on the quality of services and analyze feedback from visitors.

Designing a route in Taganay National Park
Development of regulations for helicopter excursions on the Kuril Lake, South Kamchatka Refuge
Development of a concept and strategy for the development of tourism in Kalevala National Park
Design of the tourism cluster "Volcanoes of Kamchatka"

Now I have already taken part in the development of tourism in dozens of Russian protected areas and have a fairly good idea of both systemic problems and individual characteristics. Therefore, I am more often engaged in the work of the "top level" - the development of concepts and strategies for the development of tourism.

Also, in 4 years I have developed more than ten concepts of visitor centers and trails, at least three of them have already been opened and are working for visitors (South Kamchatka Reserve, Taganay National Park, Pasvik Nature Reserve).

Often there is a need to look at "what is wrong" with the existing tourism from the point of view of the conservation meaning, to assess the nature conservation effects. Therefore, I do analytical work when it is necessary to understand how the existing tourism is facilitating nature conservation and what can be improved in this direction.

I also conduct seminars for PA employees on the topic "why is tourism needed in PAs?"".

Work examples:

The concept and strategy for the development of tourism in the Kronotsky Reserve (pdf-file of document structure).

The concept of the visitor center and trail "Semibratka", Taganay National Park (pdf-file of document structure).

Assessment of the excursion activity of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve (pdf-file of document structure).

Nature conservation tourism seminar structure (pdf-file of presentation structure).