Ecotourism

The essence of conservation areas existence is not to allow people make mass and unregulated influence on nature, but there is no goal to hide these places from the humanity, as some people might think. The world experience shows that the most vulnerable areas of the planet were successfully protected only when the society actively took part in their preservation. 

Kronotsky reserve, Koryaksky reserve and South Kamchatka federal sanctuary are our national endowment. In order people could contact with wild nature without harming it a special type of tourism is being developed here. It is educational, environmentally responsible, sustainable tourism: 

• Tourism involves only 0.05% территории. The rest of the territory is an absolutely untouched, pristine land. The tourist infrastructure is created in compliance with modern environment-friendly technologies and new advances in this sphere. People walk along wooden walkways during excursions in especially vulnerable areas. 

• The route network is created on the basis of the scientists’ recommendations and does not cause degradation of natural complexes. Annually specialists determine the maximum permissible number of visitors for every route. The management of tourist flows is implemented: there are no crowds of tourists, uncontrollable camps and picnics in the conservation areas. Visitors travel only under the control of the reserve staff members and guides. 

• The excursions are of great educational importance: they provide a lot of information concerning natural complexes, the role of reserve areas in the preservation of natural heritage, scientific projects and their results, an opportunity to get involved in nature protection activity.  

• Residents of nearby settlements are engaged in the development of tourism in the reserve areas and their adjacent zones. Thus, the institution forms an economic alternative for poaching and establishes trust-based relationships with local people. 

The Educational tourism department of FSBI “Kronotsky state reserve” covers the following fields: 

- Creation and optimization of route network and attendant infrastructure. 

- Management of tourist flows. Support of excursion activity. - Interaction with tourist operators. Preparation of guides. 

- Coordination of volunteer activity. 

17 routes are available for travelling in Kronotsky state reserve and 10 in South Kamchatka federal sanctuary. The length of the routes is from 50 m to 234 km. Guests are received by 6 guest-houses and one museum of nature. The most popular routes are equipped with wooden walkways, viewing points, observation platforms for watching animals. 

The organization of tours to the reserve areas is implemented by tourist operators of Kamchatka krai. Our institution provides a possibility to be in the reserve area, to use the infrastructure and information materials, services of a state inspector accompanying visitors for safety purposes, services of baggage and equipment delivery from one point of the route to another. 

The money received by the institution from selling tourist tickets and for rendering paid services is directed to enhancing the guard of conservation areas, scientific and ecological-educational projects, modernizing and creating new tourist infrastructure. 

Visitors and tourist operators obtain excursion tickets and permits for visiting reserve areas at the administration of FSBI “Kronotsky state reserve” which is located at 48 Ryabikova Street, the city of Yelizovo. 

In 2018 Kronotsky state reserve was visited by 6045 people, among them 1693 were international travelers. South Kamchatka federal sanctuary named after T.I. Shpilenok was visited by 5143 people, among them 2569 were international travelers. 47 volunteers worked in Kronotsky state reserve, and 55 – in South Kamchatka sanctuary.