What type of tourism is developed in Mari El. About the development of tourism in Mari El

Report of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture, Press and National Affairs of the Republic of Mari El M.Z. Vasyutina at the XVI meeting of the Coordination Council for Culture under the Ministry of Culture Russian Federation(Yoshkar-Ola, September 28, 2012).

The idea of ​​using cultural potential to develop tourism is not new. As well as the understanding that tourism, in turn, is also a resource not only for economic development, but also culture. It is able to stimulate conservation processes cultural heritage, enrichment of cultural life, humanitarian development of individuals and entire communities, harmonization of interethnic and interreligious relations. After all, tourism not only consumes, but also creates organizational and material conditions in the field of culture, gives culture bearers a sense of pride and responsibility for a unique heritage, and tourists a sense of respect and awareness of the uniqueness of the world's cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, precisely defines tourism as an area that uses the cultural heritage of humanity and at the same time contributes to its enrichment.

IN last years the topic of mutually beneficial use of the potential of culture and tourism is becoming a full part of the agenda of the activities of municipal, regional and federal authorities. Private and public initiatives, non-profit and commercial projects in the field of tourism are becoming part of regional development programs, objects of support from local government and the state.

Mari El also does not remain aloof from such processes. We have a rich cultural heritage and the potential of the cultural sector accumulated over decades. Combined with the unique, diverse nature for which our region is rightfully famous, as well as the rapidly developing infrastructure and urban architectural environment (which many of the colleagues present here have already become acquainted with), this becomes a serious basis for the development of cultural and educational tourism in our region.

“Land of Marie. Heritage born of nature” - this is the sound of one of the tourism brands of Mari El. It accurately conveys the importance that we attach to traditional culture, closely connected with the nature in which it was born.

Our region is interesting for its location. From time immemorial, near it there are water and land routes along which communication between the East and West takes place. IN close proximity there were centers of influence that we now call megacities. At the same time, the nature of the Mari region and way of life remain almost untouched - already a few kilometers from the transcontinental highways, unique karst lakes, forests, tracts and protected areas, villages with traditional ways of life, farming and culture begin.

The special geographical location of the region influenced the formation of a multicultural social environment. Five ethnic groups - Mari, Russians, Tatars, Udmurts, Chuvashs - are the indigenous inhabitants of the region and have coexisted peacefully for many centuries.

This left a special imprint on religious life. Three traditional confessions for our region have official recognition: Orthodoxy, Islam and the Mari Traditional Religion. At the same time, the uniqueness of the situation lies in the fact that both Orthodoxy and Islam, being world religions, have special traditions and characteristics in our region. And the Mari Traditional Religion (in Mari, Mari Yumiyula) is perhaps the only pre-Christian denomination in Europe that has official organizational structure, legal registration, rich traditions of religious life, widespread practice and dissemination among the population.

The ethnocultural factor has played a key role in the formation of regional cultural policy for many decades. This affected not only the peculiarities of the formation of a system of support for traditional culture, folk art, amateur performances, and a network of rural club institutions, but also the development of theatrical, musical, fine, choreographic arts, museums and libraries, and a system of professional education in the field of culture.

Therefore, speaking about cultural and educational tourism (including ethnotourism) in the Republic of Mari El, it would be quite fair to consider in a complex the entire or almost the entire range of cultural benefits created in our region.

But, of course, the basis of modern cultural life is traditional culture. This is a source of pride for us. Indeed, in Mari El it has been preserved in its original form, is widely used, and rightfully attracts the interest of our guests from all over the world.

For a relatively small population, we have a large number of folklore ensembles that are actively operating and supported by a network of state and municipal cultural institutions. The total number of Mari, Russian, Tatar, Chuvash, and Udmurt ensembles in the republic is 137. And these are only amateur amateur associations. At the same time, it is very important to emphasize that, as a rule, folklore ensembles (even children’s) are never limited to just one genre of folklore.

As a rule, this is a universal group with universal participants, capable of not only performing on the stage of a folklore festival, but also supporting, being the basis of a tribal or community holiday, conducting a ritual, meeting and treating - performing the whole range of actions of the traditional cultural way of life. That is, our folklore ensembles are a vivid visible expression of traditional life, the existence of traditional culture among the people. It is extremely interesting to observe when members of a folklore group, together with their relatives and fellow villagers, participate in a wedding procession or religious ceremonies, the celebration of calendar and ritual holidays, and other significant events in the life of the local community. In our opinion, this is an excellent example of how the support of a network of rural cultural institutions affected the preservation and, in some cases, the return of traditional culture to the natural environment.

As in the situation with folklore, in the field of arts and crafts and artistic crafts, Mari El also has enormous potential. Suffice it to say that there are about 2 thousand craftsmen in the republic, and there are historically established traditional centers of folk artistic crafts and crafts. In almost half of the regions of the republic they are engaged in wicker weaving and basket craft. otp contributions The masters of the central and eastern regions of Mari El are famous for their work on Mari embroidery and folk costume. Weaving is an active industry in the west and south-eastern part of the republic. Traditional wood carving is actively practiced in five regions, and artistic processing of birch bark in two regions. We have coopers, blacksmiths, leather workers, and makers of folk musical instruments. Many masters are united in studios, artels, and houses of craftsmen. These associations are constantly working in the direction of studying, researching crafts, and training the younger generation of craftsmen.

Of course, such diversity cannot but bear fruit. Numerous traditional holidays are held in the republic on an ongoing basis in the form of community, district, and city events. Russians - Christmas, Maslenitsa, Krasnaya Gorka, Easter, Apple Tree Saved, Trinity, Elijah's Day and others; Mari - Shorykyol, Ӱyarnya, Kugeche, Semik, Peledysh payrem, Aga payrem, Indesh kugarnya, U kyshal payrem, Ӱdyrsiy (Maiden's feast), Koҥgapayrem (Stove Festival) and others, Tatar - Navruz, Ramadan, Sabantuy, Udmurt - Grond bydton, Chuvash - Akatui.

Almost every district and even rural settlement has its own annual festival in the field of folklore, arts and crafts and artistic crafts. And, of course, at the republican level, festivals and holidays are held that have not only regional, but also interregional and, one might even say, all-Russian significance.

The Mari traditional summer festival Peledysh Pairem, the Tatar Sabantuy, the Udmurt Gron Bydton, the Chuvash Akatui gather folk groups, participants and spectators from near and far regions of Russia.

Many other regional festivals of masters of arts and crafts, music, and folklore have grown into interregional and all-Russian ones. Here we can first of all mention the unique National Costume Festival “Mari Vurgem Unala Uzhesh” (“The Mari Costume Festival invites you to visit”), which brings together masters and fashion designers of folk costume from all over the country.

Our special pride is the recently born ethnic music festival “Vudsho Yoga” (Waters Flow...), held in honor of our great fellow countrymen-composers Yakov Eshpai and Andrey Eshpai. Within the framework of one festival at concert venues under open air You can hear both traditional and classical, jazz, and pop music. Undoubtedly, this festival will take its rightful place among Russian music festivals.

The festival of national pop music “Shiy Pamash” (Silver Spring) brings together young performers and fans from many regions of Russia.

Interregional folklore and ethnographic holiday “Land of Ancestors” for absolutely short term From a modest municipal event it grew into an interregional event. Thousands of participants and spectators, folklore performers and masters of arts and crafts gather in the picturesque valley of the Arda River. By the way, it should be noted that the organizers of this particular festival were among the first to begin interacting with the tourism industry. The Razdolye tourist complex, located nearby, acted as a sponsor and co-organizer, as a result of which the geographical boundaries of the festival expanded.

A special place in the series of major festivals is occupied by the singing festival “Peledysh ayo” (“Flower Festival”). For 11 years, it has been held annually in the Gornomarisky district on Pevcheskaya Polyana - a spacious picturesque bank of the confluence of two rivers - the Bolshaya Yunga and the Volga and gathers fans of choral singing and listeners from Mari El and neighboring regions.

These events themselves - holidays and festivals, from the local to the interregional level - are not only the most important instrument of cultural policy in preserving traditional culture and enriching the cultural life of our citizens. They are a major factor in cultural and educational tourism. Even without being included in tourist routes and tours, they have actually become objects of intraregional and inbound tourism. Since the early 2000s, we have seen a significant increase in the number of visitors to these events, both from residents of our republic and visitors from other regions. That is, for the sake of familiarization with traditional culture, for the sake of participating in a cultural event, people make a choice and travel tens and hundreds of kilometers, find accommodation, food...

We have been observing exactly the same situation for many years when visiting craft centers - residents of Mari El and residents of other regions specially travel to get acquainted with the craft, purchase products from craftsmen, and learn how to make things with their own hands.

The most important part of cultural tourism is visiting museums. Almost every school or municipal museum of Mari El has a worthy collection dedicated to the ethnography of the Mari and other peoples of our region. As for large museums, it seems to us that they fully satisfy the diverse needs of the most sophisticated visitors. This includes a deep acquaintance with the culture, ethnography and history of the Mari region in the National Museum of Local Lore, and acquaintance with traditional architecture and life in the Ethnographic Open Air Museum, and an introduction to Mari fine arts in the Mari Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery...

It is very important to note that recently the museum has ceased to be a frozen phenomenon. Museum workers create a variety of interactive and animated programs, conduct master classes, courses, and lectures. That is, museums become centers of culture, centers of active leisure time, and introduction to history and culture. This is manifested in the growing number of visits by both residents of the Republic of Mari El and guests from abroad. The truth influences this geographical factor. Thus, the Ethnographic Open Air Museum in Kozmodemyansk, due to its location on the Volga, is visited many times large quantity guests from outside the region than museums in Yoshkar-Ola.

It should be noted here that the construction of the Museum of History and Archeology of the Mari Region has now begun, which will undoubtedly become another object of interest for both residents of the republic and our guests.

Another important aspect of cultural tourism is monuments - immovable objects of cultural heritage. In total, there are 1,126 such objects in the republic. These include monuments of history and architecture, monumental art of archeology, cultural and landscape monuments.

In general, cultural heritage sites themselves are not only part of tourist interest, but also form entire tourist destinations. This, for example, is the pearl of the Volga region - Sheremetyev Castle - a unique monument of history, architecture and, in a sense, the local traditional culture of the Zavetluga part of the Mari El Republic. Or another example - the archaeological monument “Mount Alamner” - an ancient Mari city - to which reconstruction clubs and spectators from many regions of Russia now gather for annual festivals.

In this regard, special mention should also be made of pilgrimage and religious tourism, which is directly related to visiting historical and cultural monuments. Now in Mari El there is a rapid growth of interest in Christian shrines, as well as in the religious life of adherents of the Mari Traditional Religion. Therefore, we attach great importance to the fact that in the Republic of Mari El, almost all religious sites of the 3 traditional confessions for our region are taken under state protection. These are temples, mosques, sacred groves and other religious sites.

Perhaps one of the most common types of tourism in Mari El, rich unique nature, are classic hiking trips local history and amateur research groups? This is a direction of tourism, rooted in the local history of Soviet times - hiking, cycling, off-road, skiing, horseback riding and even boating, the purpose of which is not a love of tourism as a sport, but as a way of understanding the world , as a desire to join the culture, history, legends and myths of the unique Mari region. School local history teams mark the map of Mari El with their routes. Clubs of extreme travelers from Moscow, Kazan, other cities and villages come to Mari villages, listen to legends, visit magical places, and then, returning home, talk about their impressions on Internet sites.

All these modest examples emphasize the peculiarity of Mari El from the point of view of cultural, educational, ethnic tourism.

This feature of Mari El could not but affect the development of the tourism industry as such in our republic. The presence of such potential in the form of bearers of folklore and the existence of traditional culture, traditional trades and crafts, historical and cultural monuments, museums, and cultural institutions has created excellent preconditions for its development. Therefore, it was understandable that the tourism industry began to cooperate with culture. Of course, we should not exaggerate the achievements in this area; we can say that we are at the beginning of the path, but something has already been done.

The simplest things are the inclusion of objects of traditional culture - monuments, museums, houses of crafts and workshops, villages and villages, festivals and holidays in tourist routes and information resources about tourism. Not only tourism figures are concerned about this issue. The cultural sector - republican and municipal institutions are currently tasked with actively promoting information about events and cultural objects in close cooperation with tourism information resources and developers of tourist routes. (By the way, it must be said that a special project is currently being developed to integrate the activities of cultural institutions and the Information and Tourist Center of the Republic of Mari El).

A more difficult task in cultural tourism in terms of its ethnic component is the development of special thematic tours dedicated to traditional culture. In fact, this work is not as simple as it seems at first glance, if we really mean familiarization with real traditional culture, and not with a remake with popular print houses and pseudo rarities. In fact, the developer of such a tour must combine not only the skills of a tour operator, but also an advanced cultural organizer, ethnographer, and manager of sociocultural work. He must not only be able to organize the delivery of tourists to the place of contact with traditional culture. He must be able to delicately technically, organizationally, creatively and meaningfully adapt a cultural resource to the perception of visiting tourists. After all, this is a very difficult cultural management task, for example, to encourage the bearers of traditional culture, who are accustomed to living in isolation, to open their world to others, and even in such a way that it becomes understandable to strangers.

An equally important skill in this matter is also to do no harm and, if possible, do some good.
The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, mentioned above, states that tourism policies and activities are carried out on the basis of respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage in order to protect and preserve it for future generations, and that tourism activities should be planned in such a way as to ensure the preservation and prosperity of traditional crafts, culture and folklore, and not lead to their standardization and impoverishment, that financial resources obtained through visits to cultural sites and monuments should be used, at least in part, for the maintenance, protection, improvement and restoration of this heritage. Agree, for all of us who remember at what rate in Soviet times folklore was turning into “ethnographic canned food” for mass stage consumption, the danger of incorrect consumer development of ethno-tourism is obvious.

I think in Mari El, like in many other regions of Russia, we manage to solve such problems.

For example, this is the creation in places where tourists stay of special small ethnographic museums, ethnographic houses, where unique ethnographic collections are collected, introducing traditional life, a traditional workshop and even a kitchen are equipped. This did not turn out to be a difficult task, apparently because the experience of creating school, rural local history museums, and corners of traditional culture in Mari El goes back decades of history. On the one hand, an ethnographic house, a hut, is something like a museum, but on the other hand, it is a domestic environment in which you can spend time, listen to a lecture, hold an event, taste dishes of national cuisine... The owners themselves, the villagers, organize and maintain such houses , receive guests there.

But there are other examples when tourists are invited to visit and even live in a real residential building with a real Mari family - even to the point of participating in housework, caring for livestock, and making hay. This is a difficult way to receive guests.

But much more difficult is organizing the acquaintance of tourists with rituals, including within the framework of traditional holidays and ritual events. After all, it is always desirable for it to be authentic and natural, but not all traditional rituals tolerate the presence of outsiders, and not all are suitable for display. Of course, the simplest is staging. And in many cases it is used. But, as the experience of successful tourist cultural organizers shows (so to speak), in many cases it is possible to do without this.

Now our tourism managers, together with representatives of traditional culture, offer such tours, where virtually every step of the tourist, from visiting holy places to participating in games and entertainment, or learning applied skills in the workshop of a craftsman or blacksmith, is naturally accompanied by natural rites and rituals - all it is done as it should be, with the spiritual attitude and ritual design that is inherent in traditional culture. This is a very difficult task for tour organizers!

The most difficult and expensive task is the creation of infrastructure - accommodation, food, transport. After all, it should best meet the goals of the development of cultural and educational tourism, especially in terms of ethnotourism.

Creating a feeling of immersion in the appropriate atmosphere for those who do not prefer luxury hotels on their trips is a whole science. One solution is to create guest houses. Now we are seeing a process where rural and district administrations, having realized the importance of tourism development, with the support of specialists from the Tourist Information Center and tour operators, are encouraging rural residents to build new houses or convert empty houses into guest houses. There are already dozens of them throughout the republic. They unite in appropriate networks in order to jointly advance in the services market. Now they can already be found via the Internet.

But there are also more ambitious projects - the creation of hotel and recreational complexes with ethnic flavor and even ethno-villages. Currently, several such complexes operate. The most famous of them are “Razdolye” and “Vizimbir”.

It provides a full range of services from the field of ethnotourism - immersion in the cultural environment through a visit to an ethnographic hut, familiarization with traditional rituals, learning the language, songs, participation in real holidays, tasting and participation in the preparation of dishes traditional cuisine, traditional medicine and health restoration, traditional games and entertainment, teaching arts and crafts, fishing and hunting in traditional ways, and the like.

With the support of the Government of the Republic of Mari El, the VladInvestTour group of companies developed a project for a hotel-tourist complex and educational center “Park Hotel “Mari Ethnographic Village”. The complex is designed in strict accordance with Mari architectural traditions in combination with modern technological solutions. The project is currently at the stage of searching for investors.

In our opinion, cultural and educational tourism in the Republic of Mari El should not be limited only to ethnotourism in rural areas. As mentioned above, all of our cultural potential is based on traditional culture and is determined by the ethnocultural characteristics of our region. Therefore, ethnotourism, as one of the areas of cultural and educational tourism, in our opinion, may also imply familiarity with classical and pop music, drama theatre, opera and ballet, and the fine arts of the Republic of Mari El. Indeed, to one degree or another, these layers of culture are the heritage, present and future of our people.

We have excellent Mari classical music, opera and ballet, and drama. There are 5 theaters in the republic operating in the Mari, Mountain Mari, and Russian languages, which, you see, is a considerable number for a relatively large region. It is important to note that performances performed in the Mari language are accessible to Russian-speaking spectators, since all of them are necessarily presented with simultaneous translation into Russian. Agree, visiting the National Drama Theater is one of the best ways familiarization with national culture, understanding of the traditional culture of the people.

One of the best ways to get acquainted with Mari dance is the concerts of our song and dance ensemble “Mari El”.

A new puppet theater building is currently under construction, which will undoubtedly become an attractive attraction for family tourism. Its repertoire includes a variety of productions and, above all, performances in the Mari or Russian language based on Mari folklore, myths, legends and fairy tales.

The construction of the Mari Opera and Ballet Theater named after Erik Sapaev is close to completion. Now the installation of an organ made in France is being completed. It should be noted that the theater’s repertoire includes not only works of world classics, but also works of Mari composers and choreographers.

The theater has a long and rich tradition of festival activities. This is the holding of the opera and ballet festivals “Winter Evenings”, “ Summer seasons", "In honor of the great ballerina Galina Ulanova." We believe that the new theater building will expand creative opportunities and become one of the centers of opera and ballet art in the Volga region.

Buildings and cultural structures adorn our capital. The city is changing very quickly, new monuments are appearing that perpetuate Mari traditions and the history of our region, preserve the memory of Russian poets and writers, and foster a caring attitude towards family. Business card These transformations included clocks on Obolensky-Nogotkov Square and Patriarchal Square, dedicated to themes from biblical tales. The city is becoming comfortable for residents and attractive for tourists.

It seems that the unique, untouched nature, the atmosphere of the beautiful, quiet and cozy capital, the developing road and tourist infrastructure, numerous monuments, rich, eventful cultural life, and, as a pearl in this frame, rich and unique folk traditions, are a worthy resource for development of tourism in the Republic of Mari El.

The following people took part in the work on the report:

E.A. Yuzykain, Head of the Department of Interethnic and Interfaith Relations of the Ministry of Culture, Press and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Mari El;

T.V. Kirillova, leading methodologist of the Republican Scientific and Methodological Center for Folk Art and Cultural and Leisure Activities.

Capital: the city of Yoshkar-Ola, founded in 1584.

Geographical position

Mari El borders the Kirov region in the north and east, the Republic of Tatarstan in the southeast, the Republic of Chuvashia in the southwest, and the Nizhny Novgorod region in the west.

The area of ​​the republic is 23,375 sq km, the population is 685.9 thousand people (2016).

Climatic features

The climate is moderate continental, with long cold winters (average temperature -19C) and warm summers (average temperature +25C). The hottest weather is in mid-July. Winter, which usually begins in November, attracts ski lovers; summer is an excellent season for traveling to natural and cultural attractions. Mari El is considered a region with very good ecology.

Tourist opportunities

Committee of the Republic of Mari El on Tourism

While rafting along the Volga, you have the opportunity to visit many museums and ancient castles: in the city of Kozmodemyansk, in the village of Yurino. During the rafting you can also enjoy fishing: sturgeon, sterlet, carp, and roach await you.

Fans of kayaking trips will appreciate the picturesque shores of Bolshaya Kokshaga or numerous lakes, such as Lake Pike. The optimal time of year for rafting on rivers and lakes is considered to be the end of summer. You can choose one of many routes: along the Studenka River, along Lake Churkan, the route along Bolshaya Kokshaga, which is considered one of cleanest rivers Europe.

Those who are more attracted by mountain landscapes should visit “Mari Switzerland” - that’s what the Vyatsky ridge is called.

One of the reserves of the republic is the Bolshaya Kokshaga reserve, created in order to preserve natural wealth. Another large reserve is the Mari Chodra National Park, where moose and bears live. There are routes throughout the park hiking trails, and one of the main attractions is an ancient oak tree with a trunk diameter of 159 cm, under which, according to legend, Emelyan Pugachev and his squad stayed. Hunting is allowed in some parts of the park: your trophy can be elk, bear and other animals.

An unusual history at the intersection of different civilizations and tribes is reflected in the national museum of the Republic of Mari El named after T. Evseev. Tourists are offered an exhibition dedicated to animals and flora region, history and ethnography, material and spiritual culture of indigenous peoples: Russians, Tatars, Chuvash, Udmurts.

History remains in some places on the streets of Yoshkar-Ola. This is the house of the merchant Pchelin, the Ascension Church in the Baroque style, as well as the house of the merchant Lokhanov, merchant Chulkov and several other buildings.

Not far from Yoshkar-Ola there are villages that have been attracting ethnographers and tourists for many years. This is the village of Ezhovo, where monastery buildings from the 18th century have been preserved; the village of Medvedevo, where the local history museum has an interesting section dedicated to the legends and fairy tales of the Mari people.

Attractions:

• Monument to the governor Prince Ivan Andreevich Obolensky-Nogotkov
• Musical clock with an original sculptural composition "12 Apostles"
• Cultural and historical complex "Tsarevokokshay Kremlin"
• Sheremetev Castle (Sheremetev Estate)
• Monument to Saints Peter and Fevronia
• Monument of wooden architecture in the city of Kozmodemyansk
• State Natural National Park "Mari Chodra"
• Stone Mountain
• sea ​​eye
• State nature reserve"Big Kokshaga"
• Mountain reserve, tract "Nolkinsky stone"
• Sculptural composition "Yoshkin the cat"

More detailed information about the region, look at the Internet resources of government bodies of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

To determine the direction of efforts to develop internal
and incoming tourism in the Republic of Mari El, it is necessary to consider the recreational opportunities of the republic and the problems impeding the development of tourism.

The Republic of Mari El is located in the European part of Russia, in the east of the East European Plain, in the middle part of the basin
R. Volga. This is one of the small Russian regions: the greatest length of the territory from west to east is 287 km,
from north to south - 150 km, the area of ​​the territory is 23,400 km 2. The population is about 700 thousand people.

The republic borders on the north, northeast and east
with the Kirov region, from the southeast and south - with the Republic of Tatarstan
and the Chuvash Republic, in the west and north-west - with the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The longest and most abundant river in Europe, the Volga, flows through our republic for 155 km. On its banks are the Gornomariysky district with its center in the city of Kozmodemyansk, the Yurinsky district, and part of the territories of the Volzhsky and Zvenigovsky districts. Second
The largest river in the Republic of Mari El is the Vetluga. Both rivers are navigable.

The hydrographic network of the republic consists of 476 large
and small rivers (including the Volga and Vetluga rivers), about 700 lakes with a total area of ​​2,752 hectares, which are the pride of the region. In the valleys of the Ilet rivers
and Yushut there are a large number of mineral springs used for medicinal purposes in sanatoriums and rest homes
and hospitals.

Failure-type lakes are located mainly in the southern,
southwestern slopes of Vyatsky Uval. IN downstream R. Ilet located large lakes: Yalchik, Gluhoye, Bottomless and Kichier.
On the edge of the northern ledge of the Sotnur Upland there are 11 lakes in a chain, including Morskoy Glaz (Volzhsky district),
at the foot of the Kerebelyak Upland there are 6 lakes.

The territory of the Republic of Mari El is densely covered with forests. The total forest area in the republic is 1,415.5 thousand hectares. Part of the forest area is located on the territory national park“Mari Chodra” (36.9 thousand hectares) - a specially protected natural area federal significance. In terms of the richness of its flora, the Mari Chodra National Park is the most unique corner of the republic. Representatives of the Siberian and European taiga and forest-steppe meet here. The second specially protected natural area of ​​federal significance, located on the territory of the Republic of Mari El, is the Bolshaya Kokshaga Nature Reserve.

In addition to specially protected natural areas of federal significance, there are 9 reserves on the territory of the republic that are classified as specially protected natural areas of republican significance, and 47 natural monuments.

The Republic of Mari El, according to the Independent Environmental Rating Agency (NERA), ranks third in the ranking of Russian regions in terms of the preservation of natural ecosystems, behind the Kostroma and Kirov regions. At the same time, the Republic of Mari El in this rating is in first place in terms of changes in the potential for ecosystem sustainability according to data for 2007 - 2008.

The main religions on the territory of the Republic of Mari El are Orthodoxy and Islam, as well as paganism. According to the results of a sociological study conducted by the sociology department of MarNIYALI in 2004, 51.1 percent of respondents adhere to Orthodoxy, 15.4 percent - the Mari traditional religion, 6.5 percent - Islam, 0.5 percent - another religion, 5 percent believe in " their God,” 21.5 percent are non-believers.

The Republic of Mari El is currently the most major center the spread of paganism in Europe and the only major center in terms of the number of believers. According to tradition, pagan prayers are held in sacred groves, which symbolizes harmony between man and natural forces. Sacred Mari groves, or “prayer sites”, are located in the most picturesque places, traditionally in birch and aspen forests, they are separate tracts and are concentrated mainly in the elevated part of the Vyatsky Uval. This is not only a place of religious rituals, but also the ethnographic, cultural and historical heritage of the Mari people.

Based on available natural resources, and also due to its geographical location and development, the Republic of Mari El is one of the ecologically safe territories of the European part of Russia with well-preserved nature and traditional culture of the local population. Thanks to this, the republic has great prospects for the development of ethnographic, rural, environmental, health resort and recreational tourism.

Cruise tourism on the river is also a promising type. Volga, business and sports tourism in Yoshkar-Ola, which is associated with the emergence of modern high-class sports infrastructure in the city in recent years.

The development of ethnographic tourism is possible in most of the territory of the republic. This is favored by the mixed living of Mari, Russians, Tatars and other peoples. It is promising to organize tours that allow you to compare the life, culture, traditional architecture and customs of these peoples. By agreement
with local religious communities it is possible to attend pagan Mari religious ceremonies held in sacred groves in the northeast of the republic. Of interest are the preserved
in a number of places, the traditional occupations of the population are wicker weaving, production of bast and products made from it, weaving, national embroidery and others.

Currently, the ethnography of the Mari people is represented by
mainly museums - State Cultural Institutions " National Museum Republic
Mari El named after. T. Evseeva" in Yoshkar-Ola, ethnographic museum
in the open air in Kozmodemyansk and others.

This Program provides for the implementation of a number of projects that provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of the Mari people more fully through “immersion” in life and interactive programs.

Rural tourism in its modern sense is a complex product that includes various areas of tourism with accommodation along routes in modern complexes and guest houses in rural areas. This type tourism has great prospects for development in 2011 - 2016 in the Republic of Mari El, since at the initial stage it requires relatively low costs, has a shorter payback period compared to other types of tourism, while using the potential of the region and has significant social significance. The development of rural tourism can partially solve the problem of employment in rural areas and stimulate the development of tourism-related industries - such as the production of souvenirs, picking berries and mushrooms for subsequent sale to tourists, and solving the issue of marketing part of agricultural products. Rural tourism can be one of the internal sources of investment for the development of agricultural production.

This Program sets the task of creating a rural tourism cluster that combines agro-, recreational, active, and ethnographic tourism. All objects comply with the principles of multifunctionality and are aimed at year-round use.

Prerequisites for the development of rural tourism in the Republic
Mari El Republic:

location in the center of Russia and transport accessibility - rail and air connections with Moscow, availability minibus taxis, buses and trains Kazan - Yoshkar-Ola (average travel time - 2 hours), availability of minibuses, bus routes Cheboksary - Yoshkar-Ola, Nizhny Novgorod - Yoshkar-Ola, Kirov - Yoshkar-Ola;

the remoteness of some objects of interest for tourism from urban centers, which makes it difficult to visit them when living in the city and makes it more convenient and economical to stay in tourist complexes in rural areas located along tourist routes compiled taking into account the attractions of the region;

novelty of the offer and the possibility of combining different types of recreation.

The most promising areas for inclusion in the route network at the initial stage of development of rural tourism are Kuzhenersky, Morkinsky, Paranginsky, Kilemarsky,
Mari-Tureksky, Gornomariysky, Novotoryalsky and Sernursky.

Ecological tourism is one of the promising types of tourism on the territory of the Republic of Mari El. The growing popularity of eco-tourism and the measures taken by the Government of the Russian Federation to stimulate the development of this type of tourism allow us to hope for the use of the ecological potential of the republic to attract environmentally oriented tourists from the regions of Russia and foreign countries.

Attractive for the development of ecological tourism in the republic are the Vyatsky Uval hills in the territories of the Kuzhenersky, Morkinsky and Volzhsky districts with natural monuments located within its boundaries: “Mountain Zadelye” with preserved ancient mine workings, “Kamennaya Gora” with low-mountain landscapes, “Karman-Kuryk” and adjacent territories, the Mari Chodra National Park, the Bolshaya Kokshaga Nature Reserve. The Shurginskaya and Chukshinskaya uplands are of interest
with picturesque surroundings, numerous groups karst lakes, the Ilet and Irovka rivers. The right bank part - Gornomariysky district and the city of Kozmodemyansk - is rich in archaeological, historical and cultural monuments.

Health tourism is a socially significant and traditionally popular type of tourism for the Russian Federation. The Volga region is recognized as one of the promising regions for the development of this type of tourism.

The Republic of Mari El has long-standing traditions
spa treatment. For the construction of sanatoriums, the most picturesque places were chosen, mainly in close proximity to water bodies. The advantage is that many sanatoriums have natural mud, mineral waters. Currently, the material base of the republic's sanatoriums is quite worn out, and modern tourist requirements dictate the need to develop a spectrum of additional services entertaining and cultural-educational nature. This Program proposes, as primary measures for the development of health tourism, support for the existing sanatorium and resort base of the republic and the development of existing
in the republic of recreational areas. Promising districts are Volzhsky, Zvenigovsky, Medvedevsky and a number of other districts. The least expensive and promising path at the initial
stage - creation of conditions for the development of related infrastructure in the locations of sanatorium and resort institutions
and other types of tourism: opening of tour bureaus, cafes
and restaurants, rental outlets for sports equipment for active recreation, development route network and ecological trails. It is necessary for the state to participate in updating the material base of the most popular and promising sanatorium and resort institutions in the republic.

Recreational (beach) tourism is a traditionally popular type of recreation in the summer. The most attractive areas for the development of this type of tourism are Zvenigovsky district
with a tourist and recreational area in the village. Kokshaysk, lakes of the Mari lowland - Shap, Tair, Karas and others, part of the territory of the Mari Chodra National Park with developed infrastructure,
especially the area of ​​lakes Yalchik, Glukhoe, also Volzhsky, Yurinsky, Gornomariysky, Kilemarsky and a number of other areas. The limiting factor for the development of this type of tourism is the short beach season and the associated uneven occupancy of accommodation facilities specializing in recreational tourism over the seasons. This problem can be partially solved by expanding the range of services and using accommodation facilities in the autumn-winter period for active, business
and other types of tourism.

Cruise tourism is promising in the Republic of Mari El. The river flows through the territory of 4 regions of the republic. Volga, however, only the city of Kozmodemyansk is currently involved in cruise programs, the flow of tourists to which has decreased in recent years due to numerous fires and loss historical monuments in the historical part of the city. Promising areas of the village remain not covered by cruise tourism. Yurino
with the unique Sheremetev castle, Zvenigovo with the museum of the history of the shipping company, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2011, Volzhsk, village. Kokshaysk, Zvenigovsky district, which is the closest locality on the river Volga to the capital of the Republic of Mari El - Yoshkar-Ola and a developed recreational area of ​​the republic. The development of cruise tourism and the involvement of new territories in cruise programs requires large financial investments for dredging, installation of landing stages and piers, as well as the participation of administrations municipalities and entrepreneurs in creating tourism infrastructure and preparing excursion programs in promising areas. If these problems are solved, cruise tourism is the most promising option for including the republic’s tourism resources in interregional programs within the framework of the signed Agreement on the “Big Volga” project.

Sports tourism- one of the new promising areas of tourism development for the republic. In 2004 - 2010
In Yoshkar-Ola, modern sports facilities were put into operation, making it possible to hold championships and competitions at the All-Russian and international level:
sports and recreation complex "Spartak", Ice Palace"Mari El" and the Ice Palace of the "Druzhba" stadium, Palace aquatic species sports, Water Palace "Yoshkar-Ola", reconstructed central Stadium"Friendship". It is planned to build new sports facilities of international level.

Development of cultural and educational tourism in the Republic
Mari El does not have great prospects as a separate type of tourism. This is connected with the history of the region and with the deep geographical location republics away from main lines economic life in the past, according to the absence in the territory
in a large number of significant historical and cultural monuments
and architecture of federal significance. Development of this type of tourism
in the republic should be considered as an integral part of other types of tourism or as an integral part of unifying interregional tourism products that involve a short-term stay on the territory of the republic
for cultural and educational purposes.

Thus, on the territory of the Republic of Mari El there are prerequisites for the successful development of several types of tourism.
According to specialists from the Department of Investments and Prospective Development of the Vladinvesttur group of companies, given in 2007, the favorable geographical location of the Republic of Mari El, historical, architectural and ethnographic heritage, wealth of environmental resources, availability of labor resources, subject to the implementation of administrative resources, will allow in the next 5 years position the republican tourism product among the top ten regional leaders of the national tourism product of Russia.

The Republic of Mari El is located in the east of the East European Plain in the middle part of the Volga River basin. From the north, northeast and east, our republic borders on the Kirov region. From the southeast and south with the Republics of Tatarstan and Chuvashia, and in the west and northwest - with the Nizhny Novgorod region. The length of its borders exceeds 1200 km, and total area equal to 23.3 thousand km2.

The Volga, the longest and most abundant river in Europe, flows through our Republic for 155 kilometers. On its banks, the museums of Kozmodemyansk and the Sheremetev Castle in the village of Yurino hospitably opened their doors.

Numerous mineral springs, significant outlets of which are located in the valleys of the Ilet and Yushut rivers, are used for medicinal purposes in sanatoriums, rest homes and hospitals.

Lakes are the national treasure of our region. Sinkholes, inter-dunes, floodplains, they invariably attract with summer coolness and clean, refreshing water. Provalnye are located mainly on the southern, southwestern slopes of the Mari-Vyatsky ridge. Most of them are located in the lower reaches of the Ilet River - Lake. Yalchik, Deaf, Bottomless, Kichier.

The most large group such lakes are located on the edge of the northern ledge of the Sotnur Upland, where 11 lakes are located in a chain, among them the Sea Eye with a depth of 35 m, and 6 lakes at the foot of the Kerebelyak Upland.

The deepest karst lake in the Republic of Mari El is Zryv. Its depth reaches 56 meters. Most sinkhole lakes located in forested areas are very picturesque. On their banks there are tourist stops, sports and recreational camps, holiday homes and sanatoriums.

Located on Maple Mountain National Park"Mari Chodra" is an interesting natural-territorial complex. The Maple Mountain sanatorium was built on its territory; there are such popular tourist places as the Green Key spring, lakes Yalchik, Mashinier, Glukhoe, Konanyer, and the rivers Ilet, Yushut, and Petyalka flow through. The oldest specimen of oak, called Pugachevsky, has been preserved here. According to legend, under the shade of this oak tree E. I. Pugachev stopped for the night with his detachment. The oak differs sharply in its size among the forest stand. This is a gigantic tree with a powerful trunk, the diameter of which is 159 cm, which is part of the upper tier. Already taken separately, the Pugachevsky oak is a valuable natural monument.

Tourists have a developed transport network represented by all types of transport. This is also a river one - along the Volga and Vetluga rivers with piers in the city of Zvenigovo, Volzhsk, Kozmodemyansk, village. Yurino, village Kokshaysk. Yoshkar-Ola airport is connected by flights to Moscow airports, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov. There are railway connections to Moscow, Kazan, Yaransk. Highways are laid to the cities of Cheboksary and Kazan.

There are five recreational zones for sports, health and educational tourism on the territory of the republic. Tours organized with active recreation. This water routes along the rivers Malaya and Bolshaya Kokshaga, Bolshoi Kundysh, Ilet, Nemda, Volga; on foot and horseback - in the southwestern, southern and northeastern parts of the Republic; cycling and skiing throughout the region.

Enjoy steady popularity pilgrimage excursions to holy places (monasteries, temples, holy springs) and religious groves. The national culture of the Mari region is rich and diverse. Cultural and economic ties with the Finno-Ugric peoples are traditionally developing. Hungary, Finland, and the Baltic countries are long-standing and stable partners of the Mari El Republic.