The retraining programme ‘Management of Tourism Territory Development: Project Approach’, aimed at developing domestic tourism in Russia and increasing the flow of tourists to the regions, continues. Each module includes the study of various aspects of the industry. At the end of the programme, participants defend a project, implementing it in their regions.
The fourth module of the programme started on 18 July at the Centre for the Development of Human Resources Potential of the Tourism Industry at the Institute of Further Education of the Volga Region University. It is devoted to the design and construction of regional infrastructure: both entertainment and economic.
The lecturers were professionals who have been working in this field for many years: Dmitry Plotnikov, an expert in the development of tourist areas and hotels, Andrey Svirelis, General Director of ProOtel, Alexander Nikitin, Head of the Committee for Water Parks and Thermal Complexes and the Group of Companies ‘AllianceSportProject’, and Yulia Zhuravleva, Head of the Information and Analytical Department of the Group of Companies ‘ASP’. They share their experience and help the participants in project development. Teams from the Republic of Dagestan, as well as the Kaluga and Kursk regions were the first to complete the programme of the fourth module.
‘To date, all programme participants have passed the pre-investment stage: they have prepared a business concept and financial model for the project, so now they can move on to the design and construction phase. Having worked in the hotel business for over 17 years, I have not seen similar programmes with such a well-developed approach and focus on tourism issues. I believe that this is a good platform for nurturing the tourist elite of our country. Because the participants of the programme are conscious people who are already implementing projects, some of which have received investment funds,’ said Dmitry Plotnikov, a teacher of the fourth module. - An important feature of the programme is the composition of the teams. Regions are represented not only by members of local authorities, but also by businessmen and investors. This approach allows to involve all interested parties in the implementation of the project, to reduce difficulties and misunderstandings. I believe that the programme is also useful for experts, because every professional has points of growth. The teachers themselves can gain new experience both during the preparation of the material and during its discussion with the participants, discovering new facets of tourism’.
Author: Adelina Khramova
