Public–Private Partnerships in Ecotourism Development in Protected Areas: A Case Study of Tunkinsky National Park in Russia

Abstract

This paper discusses the opportunities offered by public–private partnerships in developing ecotourism infrastructure in protected areas. The paper also addresses the issues contributing to threats and conflicts while implementing infrastructure projects. In order to fulfil research objectives, the authors employ a sociological instrument. Using a snowball method, the authors selected 34 experts with professional competencies in tourism development, natural resource management, protected area management, and public-private partnerships. The results of this study demonstrate a potential demand for the mechanisms of public-private partnerships when developing ecotourism infrastructure. Using the case study of Tunkinsky National Park, the authors identified potential threats and conflicts in the process of preparation and delivery of public-private partnership projects for ecotourism infrastructure development.

Landscape and ecological optimization of nature management in the Tunkinsky National Park of the Republic of Buryatia

“…The result is prepared on the basis of expeditionary research data, as well as on the materials of generalization and analysis of laws and legislative acts, published sources of the Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University, the Buryat Institute of Nature Management, the Irkutsk Institute of Natural Resources of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Buryatia, the administration of the village Arshan, local history museums, personal archival documents of local residents, etc. Also we used cartographic materials (Figure 1), forest inventory; forest management plans; schemes for forestries, districts, materials on recreation [3]; materials on the issuance of licenses for hunting animals; rules related to the harvesting of forest resources and the collection of medicinal plants, which are approved by the order of the Federal Forestry Service for the Republic of Buryatia, "economic calendars" of old indigenous people, survey data from hunters, local population, administration workers, etc. Space images of the Aster, Spot, Landsat survey systems were used; they were processed in the SASPlanet program.…”

Ecotourism Development in the Russian Areas under Nature Protection

“…The TNP itself employs 148 people. Expanding cooperation between the park and the local population, as well as building effective partnerships with private business, is necessary to create new tourist sites, routes, brands, products, and expand the list of services offered [64]. The TNP organizes annual training seminars to enhance the expertise of tour guides and national park inspectors.…”

“…Implementation of this mechanism in PAs requires changes in Russian legislation, in particular: (i) identify the privileged role of national parks in public-private partnerships; and (ii) provide for the possibility of transferring the infrastructure managed by the parks to a private partner or concessionaire [64].…”

Changes in the Functional Zoning of the Tunkinskiy National Park

“…Изучение изменений в функциональном зонировании национальных парков России свидетельствует о том, что перемены связаны с совершенствованием законодательства об особо охраняемых природных территориях (ООПТ) [1], с сохранением природных и историко-культурных комплексов ООПТ [2], с расширением совместной деятельности по решению социальных и экономических задач территории [3], с возникновением проблем, связанных с нарушением прав местного населения [4; 5], с созданием инфраструктуры экологического туризма [6]. Также анализ показывает, что изменения связаны с несоответствием ранее проведенного зонирования основным положениям Федерального закона «Об особо охраняемых природных территориях» от 14 марта 1995 г., установившего состав функциональных зон в национальном парке и основные цели их выделения.…”