HSE University Participates in Youth Hiking Tourism Development Strategy
HSE University and the project team of ‘Hikes of the First—More than a Trip’ are working on a strategy to promote hiking tourism among young people through 2030. At the HSE University project session, honoured travellers of Russia, trail builders, and representatives from various institutions, such as HSE University and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, came together to work on proposals. For three years, university experts were designing mechanisms for creating the infrastructure for hiking tourism, taking into account safety standards, eco-friendliness, and professional training for guides.
Ideas for inclusion in the document will be presented in September at the All-Russian Tourism Meeting ‘More than a Trip’ in Krasnoyarsk.
Today, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), together with the Movement of the First, is developing hiking tourism as part of the project ‘Hikes of the First—More than a Trip.’ Hikes and tourist rallies are being held, and hiking infrastructure is being updated in the regions of the country. In 2023, 500,000 people across the country joined the hikes within the project.
Stanislav Kireev
‘One can only understand the scale of their love for Russia by walking through it for thousands of kilometres. With the Movement of the First, we launched the project “Hikes of the First—More than a Trip,” so that even more schoolchildren, students, and aspiring professionals would gain knowledge about the world around them, develop useful skills, find friends and like-minded people—they would feel part of our big country, show willpower, concentration, and character. During this year, about one million young people will have gone on some type of walking trip, and next year this number will continue to increase,’ emphasised Stanislav Kireev, Deputy Head of the ‘More than a Trip’ programme.
HSE University acted as a research partner for the session. For three years, university experts were designing mechanisms for creating the infrastructure for hiking tourism and its development, taking into account safety standards, eco-friendliness, and professional training for guides and hike organisers. During their research, special attention was paid to the role of new technologies in building the future of outdoor activities.
'We hope that the results of our strategic session will mark the beginning of a successful collaboration with our partners on the development of our Ruza complex as a centre for hiking, designing trails, and creating a community of hiking tourists,’ stated HSE University Vice Rector Veronika Minina, sharing her plans for the future.
‘When working with young people, we try to adhere to the principle of project-based learning. Discovering the world and creating new things on our own is much more enjoyable outside of lecture halls,’ says Dmitry Shminke. ‘Expeditions and backpacking trips seem to be not only effective tools for educational and research activities, but also an excellent opportunity to strengthen bonds between children, young people, and their parents.’
Thanks to the ‘More than a Trip' programme, over 175,000 young people experienced unique places in Russia, got acquainted with the achievements of universities and industrial enterprises, developed a socially significant project, and found new friends.
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