Hospitality: an impetus for development

      At the international exhibition-forum "Intourmarket" in Nizhny Novgorod, opportunities for tourism and recreation were discussed.

      From April 2, for three days, the Nizhny Novgorod Fair showcased opportunities for active and educational recreation in 52 regions of Russia and the Republic of Belarus. The XXI International Exhibition-Forum of Regional Hospitality "Intourmarket" also became a platform for discussions on current issues in the development of the industry. In addition, more than 100 educational and entertainment events for visitors of all ages took place at the exhibition-forum.

      Tourism on the rise

      Today, tourism is not just a sphere for travel and adventure enthusiasts. This industry is becoming a driver for regional development, attracting guests to both well-known attractions and small towns and even villages. Over the past two years, Russia has managed to increase the influx of foreign tourists by 1.5 times — to 5.6 million. In January of this year, their number grew by 36%. The largest forum "Intourmarket" provided its participants with an opportunity to determine the prospects for the development of the industry and find partners for cooperation. Notably, it was held in the Nizhny Novgorod region, confirming its status as one of the most dynamically developing regions in the field of tourism. This fact was noted by the Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Maxim Reshetnikov, during the opening of the forum's plenary session.

      "One of the key industry forums is establishing a new tradition: for the second year, it is taking place outside the capital. Nizhny Novgorod has taken up the baton not by chance: the region has made a real leap in tourism development. Much of this is due to Gleb Sergeyevich Nikitin and his team, who systematically pay attention to both the development of the industry and the promotion of the region," emphasized the minister.

      He also mentioned that the Nizhny Novgorod region is actively entering international markets and will soon launch flights from Serbia. The minister proposed to work on launching direct flights from China and the inclusion of Nizhny Novgorod in a joint program with Moscow for promotion within the national brand Discover Russia.

      Deputy Governor Yegor Polyakov emphasized that modern quality infrastructure is needed to host foreign guests, especially those interested in business and event tourism. The construction of new hotels in the region is planned within the framework of the national project "Tourism and Hospitality." Under the preferential lending program, 16 new hotels will be built by 2030.

      "The total project amount is 50 billion rubles, with a total capacity of over 2,300 rooms. A tourist complex "Ecopark" with a five-star hotel with 258 rooms is being built. This is a fundamentally new level of service that will allow us to host guests of the highest status, including participants in international forums and business missions," said Yegor Polyakov.

      Promoting the tourism potential of regions, developing domestic tourism, and increasing accessibility across the country has also become one of the directions of the People's Program of "United Russia."

      "The development of culture and tourism stimulates economic growth in any region. That is why a separate section of the People's Program of the United Russia party is dedicated to this area. We, the deputies, are conducting systematic work to ensure that the tourism industry becomes a growth driver for the Nizhny Novgorod region," said Nikolai Upirvitsky, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economics, Industry, Entrepreneurship Support, Trade, and Tourism of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, a member of the "United Russia" faction.

      Tradition as a trend

      New meanings and values are also being attributed to folk crafts, which are becoming a trend for promoting both the entire country and individual regions. For the Nizhny Novgorod region, this is Khokhloma. The region is working on its promotion in foreign markets together with the Russian Export Center. This work undoubtedly influences the development of international tourism.

      "It is fundamentally important for us to maintain leadership within the country and reach a global level, strengthening the region's position on the map of international tourism. By opening the Nizhny Novgorod region to guests from abroad, we are conveying our values to the whole world. This is an opportunity to break many stereotypes and create a space of mutual respect," explained the Minister of Tourism and Crafts of the region, Sergey Yakovlev.

      It should be noted that over the past five years, the number of trips by foreign tourists to the Nizhny Novgorod region through the Chkalov Airport has increased more than fivefold.

      Traveling on wheels

      One of the key areas of work for regions within the national project "Tourism and Hospitality" has been the development of auto tourism. This topic was the focus of a round table at "Intourmarket" titled "Auto Tourism: How Responsible Business is Ahead of Time, Shapes the Industry, and Together with the State Demonstrates a Comprehensive Approach to Regional Development."

      During the round table, the head of the transport solutions center "Modern Transport Technologies," Natalia Pletnikova, drew participants' attention to the fact that there are many interesting places located within a radius of 60 to 200 km from Nizhny Novgorod, which are currently difficult to reach by public transport, especially with children. One of the prospects for development in this direction is the launch of specialized tourist transport designed for small groups of 12-16 people heading to specific locations.

      "Another category of tourists that remains overlooked by most regions is people with disabilities. Solutions could include minivans with lifting devices for wheelchairs, as well as tourist buses in which people with disabilities can also travel alongside other tourists," added Natalia Pletnikova.

      The Nizhny Novgorod region is actively working on creating routes for travelers. Recently, two new routes related to the Nizhny Novgorod land appeared on the national tourist portal Travel.rf.

      The two-day auto route "On the Roads of Princes and Masters of the Nizhny Novgorod Region," stretching 210 km, passes through Balakhna, Purekh, Chkalovsk, Zavolzhye, and Gorodets.

      The interregional five-day journey "From Nizhny Novgorod Shrines to Saratov Latitudes," in turn, goes through the pilgrimage-tourist cluster "Arzamas - Diveyevo - Sarov," the Nizhny Novgorod region, the Republic of Mordovia, and the Penza and Saratov regions.

      On these routes, not only are safe and quality roads being built, but roadside tourist infrastructure is also being developed. For example, at the 421st kilometer of the M-12 "East" highway, the first hotel with 45 rooms, a café, and a children's playground has already opened for tourists.

      Round table participants noted that the experience of the Nizhny Novgorod region will be useful for the development of the tourism industry in other regions of Russia.