Prospects of ecological tourism in the Pskov region

In January 2003, Gunnar Nordanstig from Swedish National Board of Forestry held a workshop on non-wood goods and services with Russian specialists involved in NTFP use. Prior to that, at the request of the Pskov Model Forest the Swedish expert surveyed the potential of the Pskov Region in regard to non-timber forest products and ecological tourism oriented to the European market. During the workshop he shared his findings with Russian colleagues and discussed possibilities of practical initiatives in this field.

According to G. Nordanstig, the region has good potential for the development of ecological tourism, a fast growing sector in the recreational business. The survey data revealed that there are favorable conditions for developing bird watching tourism, especially in protected forest areas with their rare birds and plant species. For example, in the Sebezh National Park located in the south of the region, there are 192 reported bird species, of which some rare. European bird watchers will hardly resist the temptation to see such species like the Black Stork, the White Tailed Eagle, the Golden Eagle, the Montagu's Harrier, 9 kinds of woodpeckers, the Corncrake, the Capercaillie, the Black Tailed Godwit, the Mistle Thrush, the Great Snipe etc.

The Swedish expert suggested that a pilot bird watching tour should be organized to test the viability of this type of ecotourism. The workshop participants discussed the details and agreed that this initiative should be realized with joint efforts of all interested parties.

1. Scan the following text and put the letters A (adventure), D (discovery), or E (extreme) near the sentences below. One sentence can be marked by two letters as it refers to two types of tour complexity.

Discovery. This kind of active tours is oriented to viewing wildlife and natural wonders such as landscapes, minerals, plants, birds and animals or to visiting indigenous peoples with their traditional culture. Usual accommodations are hotels, pensions, stationary lodges or home stays. Physical activity is almost absent or restricted to short easy hiking or, to say, being a snowmobile driver or passenger. So these tours are well within the capability of any healthy individual leading a normal active life. Experienced guides, interpreters and a cook will make your journey pleasant.

Adventure. In adventure tours you are expected to prepare yourself for some portion of physical activity such as trekking, rafting, skiing etc. But it usually takes not more than 3-4 hours daily and is acceptable for any healthy person. Our experienced guides always try to tune the itinerary to physical conditions of a concrete tourist group. Adventure tours may include several nights in tents. You may be expected to erect your own tent or to help with camp chores under supervision of the guide. A cook or a guide prepares meals.

Extreme. These are tours for experienced people or for those who are going to test themselves. Tents are usual accommodations. Extreme tour may involve several consecutive days of 6-9 hours walking or, to say, rafting without a rest day and without possibility to shorten or change the way. Your way may lie at high altitudes with sufficient ascents and descents. Weather conditions may be worse than expected and you should be ready to the situation. Special technical skills in mountaineering or, to say, in rafting may be obligatory for some tours. In tours of higher grades of complexity you are supposed to make input to safety for your fellows and yourself. High level of physical fitness is strongly recommended for most of extreme tours. So our advice is to study a description of the concrete tour carefully and estimate your physical and technical possibilities critically. Local staff for extreme tours of lower grades of complexity is usually limited with 1-2 guides and an interpreter. So you have a real chance to participate all camp chores and even cooking on open fire under supervision of the guide. It gives you necessary experience of self-dependent field life for future extreme trips of higher grades of complexity. We provide all camping and safety equipment.

1. Physical activity takes a few hours a day and is acceptable for any healthy person.

2. These tours aim at getting acquainted with indigenous cultures.

3. These tours may include several nights in tents.

4. These tours are well within the high level of physical fitness.

5. In these tours you are not supposed to make input to safety for your fellows and yourself.

6. The demand for physical activity is exposed to flexibility: all itineraries are tuned to physical conditions of a tourist group.

7. Hotel or pension overnighting will help you rough it.

8. Setting off these tours try not to overestimate your skills.

1. Listening.

A. Listen to the radio programme about safari holidays and fill in the missing details in the chart below.

The Call of the Wild

Recommended location	For those who want	Holiday company	Length of holiday	Cost of holiday	Time to go
Masai Mara Kenya	1.to…………. 2.to………….	Windsor Safari	3………...	4……….	Dec to Mar
Ngorongora 5…………. Tanzania	6…………. 7………….	Bales Tours	14 days	8…………	X
South Luangwa 9…………….. Zambia	10…………..	11……….	15 days	£2,341	July to Sept
Kruger Park South Africa	12………….	Southern Africa Travel	X	13………..	X

B. Now listen to the tape again and complete the following information.

1. People have been encouraged to experience a safari holiday by ……………………….

2. According to the doom-mongers, in Kenya …………………………………………….

1. A camel safari in Kenya is recommended as being …………………………………….
2. The accommodation at Ngorongora, Tanzania, is in ……………..situated……………
3. Cut-price holidays are now available in Zambia because……………………………….
4. The safari in South Luangwwa is different as it can only be done on …………………..
5. The geography of Kenya differs from that of South Africa in that ……………………….
6. Luxurious private reserves on the edge of the Kruger are frequented by………………..

1. Read the text about one more trend in the tourism sector and do the follow-up activities.

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