EXPERT field expedition and workshops in the pilot districts of Ridder and Katon-Karagay. July 14-27,2014

The expedition was organized by EcoAltai and Machaon International in cooperation with associated project partner from Austria Gesäuse National Park and the main project partners Boomerang and TEC. The expedition was primarily aimed at assessing the situation in the pilot areas and providing feedback on local opportunities for sustainable rural tourism (SRT) from the perspective of experts. Expedition programme consisted of research part in 7 villages: Poperechnaja, Uryl, Topkain, Katon-Karagay, Korobiha, Akkain (Olenij park) Akmaral, Enbek, 2 protected areas and of meeting/information exchange part in each project district in the form of formal and/or informal workshops for protected area managers, representatives of local akimats and entrepreneurs where experiences from Europe were presented, criteria for a sustainable nature-based tourism defined and adaptation of EU experience and best practices discussed.

Report (summary) evaluating tourism potential of selected protected areas and villages and related propositions for SRT development is presented here http://www.machaon.eu/altai/docs/en-2014-mission-report.pdf. The research report in Russian was prepared and disseminated to district and rural akimats. Its outcomes were already integrated in the development of regional programmes for tourism.

The research expedition significantly contributed to strengthened capacities of regional partners, LRAs and protected area staff for SRTD. It highlighted best ideas for SRTD and importantly and thanks to expert advice it adjusted the plan for implementation of several project activities to make them more cost-effective and suitable for local conditions (for example it was proposed to improve infrastructure by organisation of international volunteers and not by more expensive construction company). It was also decided not to develop marked trails as usual in Europe, but to provide only maps and local guide services which are more suitable for the area concerned. Furthermore, key practical aspects for SRTD were assessed during the expedition and information gathered were later used for formulating detailed SRTD strategy.

Thanks to effective international exchange between national parks Gesause and Katon-Karagay – an Austrian system of co-operation network between Gesause National Park directorate and local entrepreneurs was transferred and adopted to local conditions in Katon Karagay. The partnership network is being developed in a wider area of the biosphere reserve which includes representatives from many villages in the vicinity and on the way to the national park (core zone of the biosphere reserve). Highly professional designer Elena Bulvareva developed logos for partners of the Katon-Karagay biosphere reserve and for guardians of heritage. The logo for partners of the Katon-Karagay biosphere reserve includes the image of the mountain Belucha and national Kazakh ornament . The logos are used as a very effective marketing instrument for entrepreneurs working in rural tourism and eco-tourism and in supporting spheres.