Ecotourism becomes key theme of the first Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye
The Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future:
Ecotourism", an original project by the National Centre RUSSIA bringing
together experts from around the world to design a positive future, was held in
Vladivostok for the first time. The speakers discussed the prospects of
environmental education and new tourism opportunities for the region with young
people. The event on 29 May brought together leaders of the tourism industry,
travellers, students and everyone who cares about the future of the unique
natural territory of Primorye.
At the Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future:
Ecotourism", experts raised issues relating to the potential and
development of specially protected natural areas, as well as the creation of
viral content capable of promoting the Primorye Territory as a tourist
destination. Experts also discussed the future of ecotourism in the fields of
hospitality and natural heritage protection.
Deputy Director of the College of Information and Creative
Technologies at Vladivostok State University, Viktor Surzhikov, spoke about
specially protected natural areas already operating and still being planned in
the Primorye Territory, and also presented proposals for several others,
including those aimed at preserving the culture of the indigenous minority
peoples of the region. In turn, Director of the Land of the Leopard National
Park, Viktor Bardyuk, shared a range of tourism products designed to offer
visitors to specially protected natural areas new experiences: for example, the
multi-day tours "In the Footsteps of Big Cats" and "Photo
Hide", where tourists can wait for the appearance of the Amur leopard in
the wild.
"Our university trains specialists for the tourism
sector, and ecotourism occupies an important place on the agenda of the
relevant products. The Primorye Territory is one of the leaders in tourist flow
in the Far East, and a balance is maintained here between interest in nature,
accessibility for inbound tourists and the combination of environmental and
cultural potential," said the moderator of the discussion, Director of the
Institute of Tourism and Hospitality at Vladivostok State University, Galina
Gomilevskaya.
The foreign speaker of the lecture hall, Australian educator
Mark Lowe, shared his own view of fostering environmental responsibility among
the population. He believes that the development of ecology and tourism will be
shaped by new approaches to educating the younger generation, in which
technology does not distract from the careful study of the environment. The
speaker also shared the idea of organising a summer camp on Popov Island near
Vladivostok, where children would be free from gadgets and the focus of the
programme would shift to interaction with nature. Responsible children, Mark
Lowe recalled, grow into responsible adults.
"I often travel by public transport and see groups of
children who do not talk to each other and just sit on their phones. It seems
to me that we are losing the art of face-to-face communication. It also seems
to me that children should learn about sustainable farming and respect for
nature. In addition, I see the younger generation leaving their cities and
losing their connection with them," Mark Lowe said.
Popular Vladivostok bloggers and travellers Kristina
Perestoronina and Ivan Mamonov spoke about creating viral content. Ivan Mamonov
used to be a landscape photographer, but his interest in his native region
gradually grew into the format of a travel blog and historical videos. He noted
that he does not lack topics for content: his subscribers also help him search
for new stories.
"Tourism and media are very closely linked, because it is media that shape the image of a territory. The Primorye Territory is rich in interesting stories and spaces, and broad media coverage is needed so that people can learn about them," Ivan Mamonov said.
The Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future" is an
original project by the National Centre RUSSIA, which premiered on 7 February
2026 in Moscow. The event is designed to bring together leading Russian and
foreign experts to develop positive scenarios for the future and maintain
dialogue with the global professional community in various areas of society.
As part of the Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future: Ecotourism", the geographical readings "Mosaic of the Peoples of the Far East" were also held.
The Open Lecture Hall "Inventing the Future: Ecotourism", an original project of the National Centre RUSSIA, will be held for the first time at the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye on Friday, 29 May.
