Coastal tourism of the Lake Baikal: problems in the interface of circles and of societies
jillchassine on 2007
For some years, it was possible to determine significant mutations in economic domain but also at the level of conception and of representations of populations in the new Eastern countries. With their insertion in free market, these last are plunged into the phenomenon of globalisation. Also, new sectors develop, new needs create, new ideas come into the world.
The development of tourism appears in this context today and shows itself a growing preoccupation, as illustrates it every year the international living room of tourism and of trip of Moscow (Moscow International demonstration Travel and Tourism, MITT) who will celebrate the 15th birthday in March, 2008. The recent bet in tourism of some natural areas also attracts strong currencies and allows a bet in direct economic value of some zones in freed itself. He plays so the role of fixative of the local populations. This type of tourism says "ecotourism" takes interest to restructure societies and to help to preserve regional cultural specificity.
However, he is still not much developed in the new Eastern countries and just begins taking insurance around the Lake Baikal in international offer.
Until then, the most part of coastal region of the Lake Baikal, island of including Olkhon; is classified as protected natural area. However, the recent practice of tourism around the Lake Baikal knows drift and turns out to be a serious threat for environment. In his maintenance with C. Riegel, In. Soutourine (manager of the Institute of Limnologie d' Irkoutsk) puts the practice of wild tourism as second threat affecting the Lake Baikal after the rejections of station of purification. This drift led by a practice of wild tourism determines first visually.
Jill CHASSINE 2007
Also it is possible to see during all summer building up true fields of campings near the beaches of the island of Olkhon where the density of inhabitants in km2 is superior to 35 inhabitants (against 4 inhabitants in km2 on average for the basin of the lake). Consequences led by this company generate problematic situations as the multiplication of wild discharges in the wooded part of the island or else of the improvised bathrooms which occupy very unpleasantly accesses of the tracks of walkings. Also, the practice of the camping in the heart of the countryside spreads its traditional lot between others unavoidable evening in the wooden fire where each makes one day to grill the omoul. Dead wooden resources being very limited, it is therefore usual for number of tourists to take his chain saw as well as a petrol can in its luggage to be able to satisfy its desire of nature
Jill CHASSINE 2007
These observations established on the island of Olkhon highlight the fuzziness orbiting around the problems of the development of tourism around the Lake Baikal. Indeed, the legislation concerning the protection of nature in Russia counts some lacunas in front of this phenomenon and of this fact appears under many aspects as incoherent: the practice of tourist activity as well as the practice of agriculture are allowed in the national nature parks.
It is therefore a question of thinking of a harmonious and lasting bet in tourism today so that he could guarantee at the same time the protection of unique natural heritage of the lake, economic development and preservation of populations and their cultural specificity.
In this objective, a first appraisal is established concerning the diversity of tourist ba kalienne offer as well as inventory of different types of structures tour operators from France and in the region of Irkoutsk. These inquiries will allow to raise a diagnosis of current tourist situation and to check off drift and lacunas, positive and negative aspects. Then, further to the consultation of the local populations and of the various actors (tourists, agencies, institutions of protection) proposals will be able to be formulated.
At French level, two profiles distinguish themselves: travel agencies belonging to a big group tour operator and independent agencies. In the first category, most cases agencies introduce an offer only for Moscow and St. Petersburg (portray AFAT trips), others no offer towards Russia (portray Med club). Only some agencies offer an offer for Ba kal (portray Thomas Cook) included in a fixed rate by turn operator of classical type with hotel and guided tour (via Marsans Transtour). The second category counts the independent agencies and offers Ba kal only not much; most often by turn operator also (Marsans Transtour type) or seldom by receptive place included in a trip in transsib rien la carte (Slav' Tours type, Orl ans 45).
At Russian level, the inventory of structures and of offer is more delicate because the sector of tourism develops lately and data are poor or opaque. Indeed, there are many professionals insulated and not declared, working by networks: guides, drivers, interpreters, etc. Two directions can however be isolated in "official" tourist activities. The first one is that coming from the management of big groups tour operators in former days Soviet offering traditional stays in hotels and classical guided tours (Intourist type). The second which is more fond of the stay of adventure develops only today around Ba kal and tends to take largeness in front of an obviously incontestable success (Ba kalNature type with 43 different offer for a stay near the lake). This direction includes moreover a strong will to make friends in the network of international offer with the creation of an Internet site itemise the numerous possibilities of stays. The practice of this new type of tourism deserves therefore a very particular attention notably at the level of its perception by the local populations.
Jill CHASSINE 2007
Doctorante person entitled to a state benefit in Geography Development Environment
Laboratory CEDETE EA on 1210
University of Orl ans La Source
10 street of Tours
PO BOX 46527
45065 Orl ans cedex 2
Written by Jill Chassine one October 16th, on 2007 with no comments.
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