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Demand exists, services do not: why tourism in Russia is not yet ready for sustainable development

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Demand exists, services do not: why tourism in Russia is not yet ready for sustainable development

Over 60% of Russians are thinking about eco-friendly ways to travel and are looking for places that meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) standards. However, only 30 hotels in the country are going in the direction of sustainable development and can offer the audience services that would meet their request, said Olga Zakharova, director of initiatives to develop tourism, environment and climate at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) at the Gaidar Forum.

"Sustainable development and ESG have become a growing trend over the past five years. <...> Consumers have also become interested in sustainable tourism and, according to Booking.com, 61% of Russians would like to know more about sustainable accommodation, know more about where their money is going and how it affects local communities," Zakharova told the session "Sustainable Development: Challenges, Threats and Opportunities for the Travel Industry.

At the same time, there are only 30 hotels in Russia that are moving towards sustainable tourism, while there are 600 in Greece and 500 in Germany, Zakharova said.

WHY THIS IS THE CASE

Deficit of "green" objects in tourism and hospitality is caused by the absence of any rules and criteria. In addition, business does not understand what economic bonuses and privileges it can get from this, she explained.

"Business does not see economic efficiency: it is expensive to implement environmental solutions, they have a huge payback period, besides, there is a shortage of solutions in the market. There is no resource in the country where a businessman can go and find out what criteria of sustainable development object he can apply to himself. If business has an opportunity to reduce its costs and increase its profits, it will consciously take these steps," says a representative of the ASI.

According to her, a small hotel can save 5 thousand Euros in 6 months by refusing from disposable plastic and reduce food expenses by 8%, if it implements a system of food waste management.

There are already projects in the country that can share their experience in sustainable development, Zakharova said. For example, Krasnaya Polyana, which uses energy efficiency principles and has already reduced electricity consumption by 18% and water consumption by 25%. The Azimut hotel chain, which replaces cosmetic products with more environmentally friendly ones. The Buryatia hotel in the Irkutsk Oblast which managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 200 thousand tons by collecting and recycling waste. Here the expert referred to Bjorn restaurant in Moscow, which implemented the principles of lean production and reduced food waste in the kitchen. There it was calculated that 20% of fruits and vegetables do not reach the table of the consumer.

"Sustainability is everyone's common sense. It is not a challenge, it is a normal state, so that what we do today will not harm the generations that will live after us. <...> What we need to do for this: Rostourism will now work together with the regions and give them inter-budgetary transfers in order to support entrepreneurs. But so far there is no interest in the regions to form the criteria and support measures for the implementation of "green" solutions, "- she said, adding that the implementation of such solutions can already be based on existing business projects, and for this there is no need to invest in new ones.

REGIONAL EXAMPLES

The authorities of the Altai Republic understand sustainable tourism as preservation of natural biodiversity, creation of new jobs with decent wages and preservation of local culture and communities, ways of life, traditions and history.

"For us the development of tourism is especially important, because it has a multiplier effect on economic development. One job in tourism creates five jobs in related industries. And it's no secret that the Altai Republic is a super popular tourist destination. We are receiving more than two million tourists a year, and the flow is growing every year. The main task for us is to keep the balance between restriction and hospitality. According to various expert estimates, according to surveys of Russians, there is a growing trend to preserve nature. Experts point out that ecological and informative tourism grows 30% a year", - head of the republic Oleg Khorokhordin told.

To comply with these trends, Altai authorities aim to reduce the anthropogenic load and preserve local culture, Khorokhordin explained.

"We're linking hiking trails with infrastructure, handing out booklets to tourists on how to behave. Here, for example, the rocks were painted: it's quick to draw on the rocks, but to erase - it's a time-consuming and, by the way, expensive process. In addition, the Altai culture has no churches, the church is the mountain passes, and if the Orthodox culture tradition to put a candle in church, here to tie a ribbon, and that ribbon, not a mask - this is very offensive to local residents, "- explained the head of the republic.

Besides, according to him, Altai hoteliers of any level pay attention to the fight against waste. In addition, the region plans to switch to green energy.

"There are eight solar stations and one storage unit in Altai. The capacity exceeds our consumption by 1.5 times. But today it is expensive energy.According to the estimates of investors who have invested in the development of solar panels, by 2029 the price of them will be equal to gas, and then we will completely switch to green energy," - he stressed.

Today, the tourist world industry emits 8% of greenhouse gases, the tourist industry leaves a large carbon footprint, Khorokhordin added. In this regard, the republic is moving towards offering tourists to buy carbon offsets in the future.

MOSCOW AUDIT.

The demand from society for environmentally friendly consumption and tourism has already been formed (in Russia, 74% of residents, according to Booking.com, would like to reduce garbage in future travel), now the state needs to create conditions that would stimulate the emergence of such services, said Ekaterina Pronicheva, chairman of the Moscow Tourism Committee.

"We already have a strategy for the tourism industry until 2035, where the sustainable development of tourism includes respect for the ecological condition of the territories, multinationality and limiting overtourism. But we need standards that would allow either the whole territory of Russia or each individual subject to approach the principles of sustainability in a targeted way, "- said Pronicheva.

In addition, it is important to inform people and label accommodations and tour operators as meeting the requirements of sustainable development, as well as informing people what they can do so that their trip will not harm the planet. The last measure could be a legislative initiative on measures to support businesses that strive for ESG.

Moscow has been a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) since 2022 and is beginning to develop and unique standards for the city.

"This year we are auditing Moscow for compliance with GSTC international standards in terms of how our industry participants - from hotels, cafes, restaurants, and show venues - meet these criteria. As a result we have our own standards. We plan to work separately with the industry within their framework. <...> we must stimulate demand by telling people that they can take advantage of services which meet their standards and their ideas about preservation of the environment. We will create such standards on the basis of Moscow and we are inviting colleagues to participate," she said.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Karina Kamalova

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