Communist rural underdevelopment is now seen as ecotourism advantage

The legacy of underdevelopment during the communist era in parts of Eastern Europe is now being seen positively, as areas as diverse as Chechnya and Romania see their rustic rural hinterlands as an advantage in the burgeoning ecotourism market. Global tourist arrivals passed 800 million in 2006, with tourism in the world up by 5.5% (World Tourism Organization), earning US $680 billion globally. Nature tourism has grown to 20% now from just 7% in 1993.

In Romania, now a member of the European Union, southern Transylvania is a high plateau of wooded hills and valleys and shielded by the Carpathian Mountains which UN Environment Program head Achim Steiner describes as being “among the world’s richest regions in terms of biodiversity and pristine landscapes.” He has no doubt that the Carpathians will become world famous for walking, hiking, climbing, wildlife watching, photography and similar leisure pursuits.”

In order to preserve this way of life and generate income, low-key tourism is encouraged, including removing decaying farm buildings for guesthouses. Guesthouses are kept clean and simple and the focus is on typical local food like hearty stews, soups and pork sausages. Much of this has been paid for by the Mihai Eminescu Trust, a charity seeking to preserve the traditions of the Saxon villages.

Patrick Holden of the Soil Association, a patron of the Trust, thinks the local farmers’ organic agricultural methods could be a model for the rest of Europe.

Romania is also part of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), which is promoting ecotourism as an economic development option.

Bulgaria has also turned to ecotourism, launching its “Ecotourism: Naturally Bulgaria” campaign in September. Even the once-war-torn Russian republic of Chechnya is trying to radically re-shape people’s perceptions. Shatoy region in southern Chechnya, during Soviet times, saw 20,000 visitors every month to ski, ride horses, and hike in the Caucasus Mountains. The new government plans to spend UK £40 million on new hotels, reconstructing old holiday camps, building spas and health centres. The head of regional government, Khasukha Demilkhanov, is confident that the area’s natural beauty can compete with the West. The Chechens hope to start with Russian holidaymakers and extreme tourists from the West, before moving more into the mainstream market.

This story is adapted from an article in Development Challenges, South-South Solutions, the September 2007 e-newsletter of the Special Unit for South-South Co-operation in UNDP.

 


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