Bashkiria "Kandry-Kul" has become one of most popular national natural parks among tourists

UFA, 28 June 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. The Kandry-Kul National Nature Park in Tuymazy district of Bashkortostan is among the most popular among Russian tourists. Trips to national parks and visits to nature reserves with recreational purposes are becoming increasingly fashionable, Izvestiya reports.

The development of eco-tourism, when tourists travel primarily for natural beauty and clean environment, is one of the most promising directions in the world tourism industry, as reported by the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm). In recent years, the number of eco-tourists in Russia has grown by about 3-5% per year. And last year the interest of travelers increased more noticeably.

"In 2016, the number of eco-tourists in Russia grew by 10% compared to 2015 and amounted to 9 million people. In 2017, growth continued", Rosturizm informs.

According to the department, the most popular national natural parks among Russians include "Losiny Ostrov" in the metropolitan region, "Sochi" in the Krasnodar Territory, "Pribaikalsky" in the Irkutsk region, "Curonian Spit" in Kaliningrad, "Elbrus" in Kabardino-Balkaria, "Shushensky Bor" in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, "Kandry-Kul" in Bashkiria, "Russian North" in the Vologda region, "Khvalynsky" near Saratov and "Lower Kama" in Tatarstan. Promising areas of eco-tourism are located in the Altai Territory, Karelia and Yakutia.

Growth of interest to ecological tourism in Russia is also observed among foreign travelers. According to the Russian Association of Medical Tourism, eco-tourists from Britain, Italy, France, China, Germany, USA, Israel, Spain, Japan, South Korea and Iran visit Russia.