The project "Lessons with a Journey" was awarded a diploma at the 12th All-Russian "Route of the Year – 2025" awards.

      19 November 2025 16:29

      Culture and Leisure

      The Nizhny Novgorod project "Lessons with a Journey" was awarded a special diploma at the XII All-Russian tourism award "Route of the Year – 2025". The initiative received the award "For a systematic approach to educational tourism", the regional Ministry of Tourism and Crafts reported.

      As the ministry reminded, the project started in November 2023 at the initiative of the parents' community and the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin. During the 2023/2024 academic year, students of 10th grades in Nizhny Novgorod schools and first-year students of secondary vocational education institutions visited Volgograd — the children were able to study the history of the Battle of Stalingrad directly at the battle sites. At the same time, schoolchildren from Volgograd made educational trips to Nizhny Novgorod, where they learned about the history of the people's militia led by Minin and Pozharsky.

      In the 2024/2025 academic year the project continued with reciprocal visits by young people from Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd. The second season was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, so in the Volga region’s capital schoolchildren were primarily introduced to the exploits of Gorky residents on the front and at the home front.

      The initiative received a new impetus during the days of the Victory anniversary celebrations — then a group of Nizhny Novgorod schoolchildren and students flew on a special flight to Brest and Minsk. The children learned about the feats of soldiers from the Republic of Belarus and were also immersed in the culture of the fraternal nation.

      "There is interest in our project not only at the Russian but also at the international level. It is especially significant that 'Lessons with a Journey' primarily develop youth tourism: the trips instill in children a love for our great Motherland, a deep sense of patriotism, and an interest in domestic history," said Sergey Yakovlev, Minister of Tourism and Crafts of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      The ministry clarified that a total of 455 projects from 59 regions of Russia and the Republic of Belarus were submitted for the "Route of the Year – 2025" award this year. 360 projects were presented in the finals held in Perm. The Nizhny Novgorod Region took home nine awards.

      In the category "Best Modern Digital Technologies in Tourism" the grand prize went to the digital portal project "Dialogues with Gorky". It was implemented by the Nizhny Novgorod City Tourism Department.

      In the category "Best Route of Popular Science Tourism" third place was taken by the bus excursion tour "Speed Vector", developed by the tourism center "Russian Wings" in Chkalovsk.

      Another bronze went to the project "With Love to Vyksa. Guide" by the local Park of Culture and Leisure. It was presented in the category "Best City Tourist Map".

      The remaining five awards were won by the Nizhny Novgorod Region tour operator "Open the World". These include the grand prize in the category "Best Interregional Route" for the project "Interweaving of Cultures", the win in the category "Best Regional Tourist Map" for the project "Interactive Map 'Open 52 Region'", the win in the category "Best Youth Tourism Route" for the project "YouthNO", 2nd place in the category "Best Railway Tourist Route" for the project "Literary Retro Train: In the Footsteps of Writers" and 2nd place in the category "Best Tourist Guidebook" for the project "AI Guide 'Open 52 Region'".

      The award organizers noted that the competition was dedicated to the memory of the award's founder, Gennady Shatalov. Recall that the industry awards have been presented since 2014 for achievements in creating and developing tourist routes following an open project competition.

      The award gives tourism professionals the opportunity to present their initiatives, meet colleagues and implement joint projects. Expert analysis of competition entries makes it possible to track new trending directions in the development of domestic tourist routes.

      Recall that the development and promotion of various types of tourism is carried out within the framework of the national project "Tourism and Hospitality". It was initiated by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and is the successor to the national project "Tourism and Hospitality Industry". The new national project envisages the development of infrastructure, production of equipment, training of personnel for the tourism sector, promotion of travel around Russia, as well as ensuring quality service and safe, comfortable trips. The national project includes five federal projects: "Creation of Accommodation Stock, Infrastructure and Attraction Points", "5 Seas and Lake Baikal", "Production of Domestic Products for the Tourism Industry", "Tourist Attractiveness of the Country" and "Personnel for Tourism".

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