The republic of Buryatia has huge tourist resources, first of all, it is the unique natural property - lake Baikal. In the rating of regions of Russia which are considered to be the most interesting among foreign tourists Baikal is at the forth place. Besides Buryatiya is one of the world centres of the northern Buddhism. Only here it is possible to get acquainted with the secular history of mutual relation of the culture of the Buryats, the Old Believers and peoples of the North (the Evenks, the Soyots etc.).
The main purpose of the state policy of the Republic of Buryatia in the sphere of tourism is the creation of the modern highly effective tourist industry providing, on the one hand, ample opportunities for satisfaction of requirements) of the Russian and foreign citizens, and on the other hand - the significant contribution to the development of economy of the republic, including tax receipts in the budget, inflow of foreign currency, increase of quantity of workplaces, preservation and rational use of the cultural and natural heritage.
The Concept of the development of tourism accepted in July, 2003 in the Republic of Buryatia which defines the basic approaches and principles of the development of tourist branch of Buryatia till 2010 and establishes concrete directions and ways of the decision of the problems on the basis of the complex social and economic analysis of the condition of the sphere of tourism of the republic is directed on the solving of all problems facing to the sphere of tourism in Buryatia.
By an expert estimation in 2003 167 thousand tourists visited Buryatia. The rate of the growth of tourist arrivals for one year is 105,2 %. The volumes of the paid services rendered to tourists was 298 mln. roubles that is 7,2 % more.
With the purpose of the creation of the image of the republic as a tourists-attractive region the Committee on tourism of the Mimistry of the economic development of the Republic of Burytia pays special attention to the realization of marketing activity in the sphere of tourism taking into account the specificification of directing markets and features of promotion of a product.
The tourist enterprises and associations are active participants in the largest Russian and international exhibitions and fairs: "Baikal tour" (Irkutsk), "Toursib" (Novosibirsk), MITT (Moscow), MITF (Moscow), JATA (Yokohama, Japan).
The republican system of marketing which is created and will function on the basis of the network of information centres of cities and regions of the republic. Such centres have been already created in Tunkinsky, Mukhorshibirsky, Kabansky, Ivolginsky, Severobaikalsky, Barguzinsky, Pribaikalsky, Kyahtinsky regions and Ulan-Ude. The development of the given system is organized in two directions: advertisement and information of supply of the sphere of tourism and the development of the system of booking and sales of tourist, hotel and other services.
With the purpose of the estimation of the condition of the tourist-recreation complex the work on research of the conjuncture, tendencies and prospects of the development of the market of tourism of Buryatia is carried out. In 2003 the work on inventory of objects of arrangement of tourists and services offered to them began
The results of marketing researches and inventories of tourist resources of the republic will be put in the basis of the development of the General circuit of arrangement of objects and infrastructures of tourism of the Republic of Buryatia.
With the purpose of assistance to the development of especially protected natural territories, including medicinal-improving districts, together with Buryat State University the laboratory on the estimation of the hydromineral base of the republic was established and accredited in March, 2003 in Gosstandart of Russia. In 2003 the laboratory worked out researches of natural medical resources of the republic as a result of which the register of mineral sources and medical dirties was made. Now the Directory of mineral sources and medical lakes of the southern regions of Buryatia( Zakamensky, Kyakhtensky, Dzhidinsky, Selenginsky,Ivolginsky regions) is prepared for release.
One of the main directions of the development of the sphere of tourism of the republic is the organization of the work on preparation, retraining and improvement of professional skills of experts in tourist business and control bodies of the management of tourism with the purpose of improvement the quality and a variety of given services. The school of tourism created together with the Baikal Regional Association of Tourism conducts training seminars on specialities “ Management of tourism ”, “ the Organization of an excursion affair and tourism ”, “ the Internet - technology in tourism ”, “ Business - planning in tourism ” etc.

The press release

The participation of the Government of the Republic of Buryatia in III International tourist forum of Northeast Asia in Niigata (September, 17-20) and International tourist exhibition JATA in Tokyo (September, 22-24) In September, 17-20 the Republican agency on tourism of the Republic of Buryatia took part in III International tourist forum of Northeast Asia (NEA) in Niigata (Japan).

In 2006 the Forum was carried out for the third time, after the Forums in China and Korea. The forum was organized by the Japanese Institute of economic researches in Northeast Asia (ERINA) which has been engaged in researches of economic processes in the countries of Northeast Asia since 1993. The main sphere of researches of the Institute concerns questions of increasing transport corridors and infrastructure, power supply, environment protection, development of trade relations and increase of tourist exchanges in this region.

Representatives of tourist administrations and tourbusiness of China (54 participants), Mongolia (8 participants), Republic of Korea (48 participants), Russia (42 participants), Japan (about 150 participants) took part in the III Forum.

Russiawas represented in the Forum by tourist administrations of the Khabarovsk and Primorsk areas, the Kamchatkskaya oblast, Republic of Buryatia, and also 33 hotel - tourist companies from Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Petropavlovsk - Kamchatka, Yakutsk.

Representatives of the Republic of Buryatia took an active part in all actions of the Forum. The head of Republican agency on tourism L.B.-Zh. Maksanova made a report " Peculiarities and tendencies of development of tourism in the Baikal region " about creation of special economic zone of tourist-recreational type "Baikal" and prospects of development transfrontier routes. The idea of organization of the international tourist routes caused a big interest on the part of the Japanese, Mongolian and Korean participants of the Forum, and also representatives of tourbusiness of Far East of  Russia. The next discussion of this question was decided to carry out within the framework of the next Forums in Khabarovsk and Ulan-Bator.

Business negotiations showed high interest of administrations of prefectures and the Japanese businessmen in development of tourist exchanges between the Baikal region and Japan, they concluded contracts on advertising - information mutual cooperation.

Due to the results of participation in the Forum,  with the aim to achieve cooperation between the tourist organizations and increasing tourist exchange in the countries of NEA, it was decided to carry out the following actions:

Foundation of permanent Secretary Board of the Tourist Forum of the countries of NEA; Development of the united database of transfrontier tourist routes of the countries of NEA; Development of transfrontier project " Eastern ring " (Russia, Mongolia, Japan or Russia, Mongolia, Korea); Creation of the common tourist site of the countries of NEA; Development of the database of investment projects on creation  infrastructural and tourist objects providing routes of "Eastern ring" according to the international quality standards.

On September 22-24, the Republic of Buryatia was represented on the united stand of Russia in the  International tourist exhibition JATA in Tokyo.

JATA has been functioning for 20 years, it is one of the largest and popular tourist exhibitions of the world alongside with exhibitions of ITV in Berlin, WTM in London, CITM in China. In 2006 the exhibition had 770 exhibits from 131 countries and regions of the world, which made 924 exposition stands. 106241 people visited this exhibition for three days.

The exhibition showed that the tourist politics of Japan has the slogan " Yokoso! Japan " (" Visit Japan "). One of the most leaving countries of the world, Japan began to advertise actively its tourist resources - historical-cultural sights, technical achievements, cuisine, hot sources - Ínsens, beach and mountain skiing resorts.

Russia was represented by 9 tourist administrations of subjects of the Russian Federation (Moscow,  Khabarovsky and Primorsky areas, Kamchatkskaya, Chitinskaya, Kaliningradskaya and Leningradskaya areas, Republic of Buryatiya, Yakutia), more than 30 tourist companies of Moscow,  Leningrad, Irkutsk, Chita and Kamchatka, Khabarovsk and Primorsk areas, Yakutia, and also airlines " Aeroflot " and "DalAvia".

The delegation of the Government of the Republic of Buryatia consisting of the vice-president of the Government of RB S.G.Efimov,  chairman of Committee on social policy of National Khural of RB S.G.Mezenin and the head of Republican agency on tourism L.B-Zh. Maksanova took part in the press conference organized by Federal agency on tourism for presentation tourist resources of Russia, and also in the working meeting with minister of transport and infrastructure of Japan, supervising questions of development of tourism. In this working meeting the participants considered the question on an opportunity to sign the Agreement on a visa-free tourist exchange between Russia and Japan.

The exhibition stand of the Republic of Buryatia submitted promotional materials of tourist firms of the republic - "BuryatIntour",  Baikal Naran Tour", "Siberia - tour",  Firn Travel", "Sputnik - Buryatia", "Geser", "Zhasso-tour", and also P.Pavlov's Buryat national souvenir production.

Guests of the exhibition - representatives of tourist business and potential tourists - showed a great interest to visiting Buryatia and Lake Baikal. Especially Japanese tourists liked the prospect of uniting the tours in Buryatia and Mongolia in one route. The most attractive routes from the point of view of the Japanese tourist are nature-cognitive and culture - cognitive ones. For development of these kinds of tourism the Republic of Buryatia, one of the most interesting regions of Russia, located in the centre of the Euroasian continent, near well-known Lake Baikal, has all necessary resources. Deterrents factors are poor information, the undeveloped infrastructure, inconvenient transport circuit - lack of direct airlines from Ulan-Ude.

Republican agency on tourism at the
Ministry of Economic Development and External Relations of the Republic of Buryatia

Contact information:
670001, Ulan-Ude, 7 Erbanov str., House of the Government ?2
tel.: +7 (3012) 21-21-25
fax: +7 (3012) 21-21-25
e-mail: kom-tur@mec.buryatia.ru
www.baikaltravel.ru