Ethno-Tourism Research in Lovozero, Murmansk Region, Russia

Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract

Ethno-tourism is one of the perspective ways for ethnic diversity conservation. Recent researches suggest that ethic and cultural tourism, very close in content, are fragmenting into a series of niches and start interacting with other types of tourism. Ethnic and cultural diversity of Russia give unique opportunities for development of ethnic and cultural tourism destinations in Russian regions. They are largely determined by the ethno-cultural potential of the region, its tourism infrastructure, as well as by position and activity of the native population and local authorities. The article presents the results of field-trip studies on ethno-tourism in Lovozero district in northern Russia where different ethnic groups face social, economic and ecological problems in the process of tourism development.