Autotourism goes to GOST – Kommersant FM
[ad_1]
Uniform standards for automobile tourism may appear in Russia. This will allow stars to be assigned, for example, to campsites and glamping sites, and the most popular routes will be equipped with everything travelers need. The initiative was taken by the Association of Automotive Tourism and Caravanning. They have already sent the proposal to the State Council Commission on Tourism.
But in order to develop GOSTs, it is necessary to first define definitions of such concepts as “automotor tourism”, “glamping”, “road service zones”. After this, it will be possible to develop state standards for tourist routes. As part of the concept for the development of autotourism, the first project could be a route from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.
In parallel with this, a classification system for camping and glamping sites, similar to hotels, can be created. According to Sergei Lobarev, president of the Association of Motorcycle Tourism and Caravanning, this will help not only travelers, but also businesses:
“We, as a national association, are advocating that a classification institute be created. This includes comprehensive work, safety, ecology, and comfort. Autotourists should know what category of campsite we can visit on the route. Certain conditions must exist not only for travelers, but also for businesses.
In October, we plan to hold a meeting at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry with entrepreneurs who are involved in the creation of roadside service facilities. They rightly say that they cannot really get information anywhere.
To motivate business representatives, we are providing an information and navigation system that will include only classified campsites. Now there may be some boom, but it is seasonal and occurs from May to September. And when October begins, many don’t even know how to attract a client.”
President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to develop a concept for the development of automobile tourism until 2035 back in May. It should also specify the conditions for the development of related infrastructure.
Initially, the deadline was set until June 15, 2023. But the final version of the concept has not yet appeared. And in July, the president instructed the government to speed up its development.
At the same time, the authorities have been trying to introduce uniform standards for more than one year. As Irina Mamay, the founder of the glamping “Green Path” in the Tula region, said, the previous version did not suit the business due to controversial requirements. Although similar industry standards are needed, Kommersant FM’s interlocutor notes:
“Three years ago I was invited to a working group where they tried to develop these GOSTs, and then they prepared general requirements. There were also business experts there. GOST was sent for some kind of examination, and it received amendments that were not particularly applicable to the market. The majority, of course, were against it, but not because state standards are bad, but because a rather formal approach is used when writing them.
Many who do not meet the general criteria may suffer. For example, the installation of a fence will be specified in the requirements, but if camping or glamping is located on forestry lands, then the Forest Code does not allow blocking them with a fence. As a result, this idea was stalled. As for me, I am more for than against. When we were building in 2018, there was nothing to rely on at all. Now the situation has not changed much. We relied on GOST for camping, developed many years ago, which has lost its relevance and, in principle, is not applicable to glamping. This is still different, but there is no such concept in the legal field. Therefore, I am in favor of having some documents. Another question is how this will be implemented, by whom, and to what extent business will be involved in the development of GOSTs.”
According to the Association of Motorcycle Tourism and Caravanning, Russians make approximately 20 million tourist trips by car throughout the country every year. However, no one currently keeps official statistics specifically on autotourists.
From Rosstat data it follows that in 2022 Russians made 153 million tourist trips around the country. But the Russian Travel Industry Union clarified that only 30% of them buy tour packages. And the rest, as a rule, only book hotels and get to the place on their own.
Everything is clear with us – Telegram channel “Kommersant FM”.
[ad_2]
Source link
