OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2011. The Government of Karelia has approved the concept of a long-term target program of Development of Tourism in the Republic of Karelia in 2012-2015.

Karelia, considering its favourable geopolitic position, rich recreational resources and centuries-old cultural and historical heritage, traditionally has a special place in the tourist market of Russia. According to independent news agencies our republic keeps the third place on general tourist prospects in the opinion of tourists of our country and the first place on prospects in the field of adventure holidays.

Goals and objectives of the program of tourism development in Karelia through 2015 completely correspond to strategic reference points of development of the region. Thus, the Strategy of Social and Economic Development of Karelia through 2020 calls tourism one of the priority branches of development of the republic. Travel industry should become one of the components of the region's economic base alongside with forestry and mining.

The purpose of Development of Tourism in the Republic of Karelia in 2012-2015 long-term target program is arrangement of conditions for steady growth of guided tourist flow to Karelia, as well as expansion of the spectrum of tourist services.

Among the objectives of the program there are assistance in mobilization of domestic and foreign investments into tourism infrastructure and hotel business, increase of efficiency of tourist potential of the republic, evening-out of inequality in distribution of tourist activity within the territory of Karelia, increase of the role of guided tourism, involvement of the population of the republic into tourist activities.

These tasks will be solved through development and implementation of mechanisms of searching for investors, participation in competitions of appropriation of funds of the federal budget on the terms of cofinancing, perfection of advertising and informational promotion of the tourist offer and tourist brands of the republic, organization of trainings concerning entry into tourist business in the regions of Karelia, etc.

It is expected that implementation of the program on the basis of optimization of using the tourist potential of the republic and creation of economically winning conditions for conducting tourist business will result in significant (1.5-fold) growth of the flow of incoming guided tourists and sightseers and, accordingly, increase in the share of tourism formed by it in the total regional product of Karelia.

Important social tasks of creation of new jobs and increase of self-employment of population of the republic will be solved, too.

Besides, the program is focused on preservation of natural and cultural values of the republic.

The State Committee of the Republic of Karelia for Youth, Physical Training, Sports and Tourism is appointed the state customer of the program of tourism development in Karelia through 2015. The State Committee for Youth, Physical Training, Sports and Tourism is charged to provide development of the draft program in accordance with the established procedure.