Assessment of the attractiveness of rural areas for the resettlement of new residents and the development of tourism

Issue № 3, 2024, article № 12, pages 117-125

Section: Development of rural territories

Language: Russian

Original language title: ОЦЕНКА ПРИВЛЕКАТЕЛЬНОСТИ СЕЛЬСКОЙ МЕСТНОСТИ ДЛЯ ПЕРЕСЕЛЕНИЯ НОВЫХ ЖИТЕЛЕЙ И РАЗВИТИЯ ТУРИЗМА

Keywords: RURALIZATION, RURALISTS, URBANISTS, RURAL AREA, SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, EXPERT SURVEY, RESPONDENTS, TOURISM, TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract: New opportunities for remote work, as well as new challenges associated with the loss of attractiveness of cities as a safe and environmentally friendly place of residence, have created a new image of the countryside as a comfortable place to relax and live. During the pandemic, the interest in rural areas was most noticeable among the urban population. As a result, the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages and Towns in Russia initiated a study of the motives and types of immigrants and it was the first stage of a sociological study. Now, more focus is given during domestic tourism, including in small territories with the beginning of the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions and the closure of many countries to Russian tourism. This facilitated the second stage of the study in order to test the results of the first stage and reveal new aspects in modern conditions. The purpose of the study was to assess the attractiveness of rural areas to attract new residents and tourists, including in settlements – members of the association of the most beautiful villages and towns in Russia, during a period of global challenges and changes. The results of the study allowed us to draw a number of conclusions, among which the following were noted: the trend for moving to rural areas for urban residents has indeed become more pronounced, but its full implementation is slowed down by the infrastructural backwardness of rural areas. The motives include ecology, space, freedom, silence, lack of information noise, and a calm rhythm of life. At the same time, the second stage allowed us to note that the ruralists and tourists interact well with the local population and administration. However, the population is not always friendly with new residents, but they are more supportive of tourists, as they believe that they contribute to the development of the territory

Authors: Merzlov Aleksandr Valerievich, Vorontsova Natalia Vasilevna, Merzlova Valeriia Aleksandrovna, Riabushkina Anastasiia Andreevna