The launch of the project «Eco-efficient tourism»

«Green» solutions and technologies — for the good of territories

Seminar «Strategies and best practices for sustainable/ green development of cities and regions» that was held in Petrozavodsk on June 13—15, 2012 gathered more than 50 specialists, united by the idea of elaborating and implementation of strategies of sustainable development of cities and regions. Scientists and research students, representatives of of authorities of different levels, business and international organizations got familiarized with the best Russian and foreign «green» development practices designed and implemented within international programs and projects.

The seminar also officially launched the international project «Eco-efficient tourism»: the first half of June 13 was given to the working kick-off meeting, where plans for the project implementation were discussed. The project is implemented in the framework of Karelia ENPI CBC Programme. The overall objective of the project is making Euregio Karelia more attractive for tourists through gradual leveling of the quality of services provided to tourists on the two sides of the border, and promoting introduction of eco-efficient technologies of recreational area management in active tourism destinations in Republic of Karelia (Lake Ladoga and Syamozero areas) in co-operation with adjacent Finnish areas. The project will contribute to making pilot areas more comfortable, safe and environmentally friendly and known for these features. It will also improve cross-border tourism transboundary practices and regional development co-operation. The partner consortium headed by non-profit partnership «Centre for Problems of the North, Arctic and Cross-border Cooperation» unites a number of partners.

Moreover, the seminar was held in the framework of another international project «Nordic-Russian green growth arena» (the opening conference was held on April 17—20 in Malmo, Sweden) implemented under the aegis of Nordic Council of Ministers. The main goal of the project is introduction of green growth and sustainable development principles in economics of regions of North-West Russia on the example of experience of North European countries.

The seminar served as a unique model of effective network cooperation of authorities, scientific, international and educational institutions, and contributed to designing a firm platform for implementation of joint decisions and development of partnership links.

The organizers were Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Information Office of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg, the International Centre for Social and Economic Research «Leontief Centre», and non-profit partnership «Centre for Problems of the North, Arctic and Cross-border Cooperation» (North-Centre).