Orenburg state university

Tourism in Orenburg

Orenburg and Pervomay Regions are the most advantageous for the tourism. OSU Scientists from Geological and Geographical Faculty proved it.

Scientific team of OSU Geography and Regional Studies Department under supervision of Olga Popova conducted the research for two years. For the first time the administrative areas of Orenburg Region were estimated according to three main components: tourist-infrastructural, natural-recreational and culture-historical. All these criteria were not discussed simultaneously earlier.

The scientists studied condition of road complex, hostels and food service, presence of parks and rivers as well as cultural monuments in 35 regional areas. After they entered results in special formulas and determined places with high and low rates of potential for tourism development. Unremarkable at the first sight Orenburg and Pervomay Regions are the most advanced for the tourism.

— Exactly they became the best according to the total assessment, — Project head Olga Popova tells. — Not only storage lakes or pine forests are important for good holiday, but also place of living and food.

The researchers also deduced that it’s impossible now to form an advanced tourist network in the region. The reason of is the lack of information about attractive for holiday objects and released products of local tourism by tour operators, as well as uncompleted infrastructure.

To liquidate all detected disadvantages they have offered individual programs for territories development. According to the scientists it is reasonable to develop archaeological tourism, rural tourism and the kumis therapy in Orenburg Region which was priority direction of tourist activity in the 18^th century.

The developed program was based on experience of the western colleagues, for example, rural tourism is known in Europe long ago. Vacationers took part in agricultural works, which was partly paid or they work in exchange for free accommodation and food. For citizens it is possible to organize water melons harvesting and horse care in Sol-Iletsk area. Older tourists will have opportunity to learn knitting of downy shawls in villages, where this craft is well-developed.

Extension of domestic tourism will allow transforming of service industry and will create new workplaces for residents of Orenburg Region.

The project "Integrated Tourist and Recreational Potential of Orenburg Region" has been carried out with financial support of Russian Humanitarian Research Foundation and Government of Orenburg Region and can be used for drawing up of regional programs for tourism development.

Among the scientists are: Assistant Professors of OSU Geography and Regional Studies Department — Irina Filimonova and Aleksey Lyubichankovskiy, Senior Lecturer of the same department — Natalya Svyatokha, as well as Master’s student of "Geography, Recreational Geography, Tourism and Local Studies" program " — Ekaterina Valueva.