| Location
Along many parts of the Russia’s coastline, tourism
(if any) has been developed in a haphazard and unplanned
way and causes major environmental and social problems.
Western and Russian tourist activity significantly differ
mainly in terms of infrastructure development and objectives.
Russian leisure time is often spent
in nature, e.g. on natural beaches, and involves gathering
berries and mushrooms for winter, amateur fishery (recently
by inexpensive and effective monofilament nets) and
less often hunting (including in prohibited season).
These activities are deeply rooted in traditions and
history.
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Coastal code assessment
Assessment of the Coastal
Code approach in Northwest Russia included the issue
of sustainable tourism and was done in the framework
of a pilot project for integrated development of the
coastal zone of Kingisepp District (Leningrad Region).
It was implemented jointly by EUCC and Baltic Fund
for Nature (BFN). Sponsor of the project was the 1998
Pin-Matra programme of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture,
Nature Management and Fisheries.
How
The project determined
whether the guidelines proposed in the European Code
of Conduct for Coastal Zones are adequately reflected
in the existing strategic and development plans of
the area.
Objectives
Main objectives of the
project were:
-
Characterise the environment
of the coastal zone
-
Analyse common practice
and trends of coastal zone management
-
Assess the ecological
status of coastal habitats and biological communities
and determine negative human impacts
-
Select those approaches
of the Coastal Code, which are best suited to tackle
problems related to biodiversity loss in Kingisepp
District
-
Work out recommendations
on optimising the Coastal Code taking Russian specificities
into consideration.
Conclusions
Analysis of the situation
in Kingisepp District had shown that organised tourism
was developed poorly in the area.
Only 50% of Coastal Code guidelines had been applied
in management practices of Kingisepp District. In
particular, the following ones were not respected:
-
Integrate sectoral
development in coastal zone
management
-
Non-development zones
-
Protected coastal land
and seascapes
-
Realisation of polluter
pays principle
The most suitable areas
for development of tourism in the district are those
adjacent to the Gulf. Taking that into account, the
administration of the district took the decision to
construct a tourist complex at the shore of Narva
Bay. The projected area is 4,500 ha and its recreation
capacity is 50.000 person per day. The project will
require large investments from the local goverment.
Difficulties
Main difficulties of realising
Coastal Code principles in practice were formulated
as follows:
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