Dear colleagues.
In this paper I would like to raise some questions concerning different kinds of active tourism and perspectives of their development on the Crimean peninsula.
But before doing this I’d like to give some definitions. We well know that tourism is defined as all kinds of movement, which are not connected with the change of a constant residence, but with the purpose of rest, recreation, participation in scientific, business and cultural meetings, and also visit of relatives. It is the general idea that active (sport) tourism is such kind of recreational activity that requires physical stamina and fitness; it is accompanied by a risk for a tourist’s life and an increase  in adrenaline level in blood.

 For the Crimea the most popular active kinds of tourism are as follows: trekking, cycling, horse riding, diving, yachting, speleotourism, mountaineering and rock-climbing, aero and green rural tourism. And it is remarkable, that during last years these kinds of tourism gained the increasing development and enjoy popularity both abroad and in CIS. (Commonwealth of Independent States)
It is especially significant, that the rational developing of new kinds of active tourism will allow not only to increase the number of tourists, but also will help solve the problem of seasonal prevalence, so actual in the Crimea.
It is a fact that the tourist activity has a mass character during dry and hot summer, however, the cold period of the year, excluding winter holidays, is a “dead” season. The liquidation of seasonal prevalence pursues ecological and economic goals.
Needless to say, that most of tourists, arriving in the Crimea, are interested, first of all, in the rest at the seafront. However, this rest is seasonable, while mountains and reserves are attractive and accessible all the year round. Various kinds of active tourism and sport, usual for Alps, make up global travel industry today. Beside the eternal snow and ice, the Crimea now can offer all kinds of active mountain rest, which have been developed in the Alps and Mediterranean.
Now I would like to say a few worlds, concerning some of them.
Rock-climbing and mountaineering is considered to be one of the most thrilling and dangerous kinds of sport tourism.
It is a fact, that perfect conditions for rock-climbing — both for beginners, and for professionals are created here. Opportunities for developing new technical skills, testing new equipment are just unlimited. Rock-climbing is technically, physically, psychologically demanding and requires an intense prior training, as well as using special gear ( gear is equipment to protect the body of a climber). The best rock-climbing season in the Crimea is from April to mid June and from September till mid November.
Speleo-tourism is one of the most interesting and even fantastic kind of tourism.
Crimean mountains are the real museum of karstic formations of a relief from which horizontal caves and vertical mines are most interesting. Here and there underground rivers run fast in the caves, coming out into the daylight in ice-cold springs and most beau­tiful waterfalls.
According to the data, about 900 karstic caves, mines, wells were totaled in Crimea. The biggest of caves is Kizil-Koba (Red Cave) near with village Perevalnoye in Simferopol district. It has six floors, a small underground river,  several lakes; its length is 22 kms nowadays, and very year new halls are being discovered.  Almost all of you, I suppose, have already visited the most popular among the tourists, magnificent Marble cave. By the way, it belongs to the grade of «five» of the most beautiful caves of Europe.
Winter kinds of tourism. Winter is considered to be “dead season” for the Crimea, but let me assure you that it’s not true.
Every year, winter kinds of tourism are getting more and more popular in the Crimea. Though Crimean winters often bring little snow, the mountain slopes of “yailas”  enjoy rather long-staying snow cov­ers. They attract an army of mountain ski­ing and snow-boarding lovers.  As you know, the most popular are the mountain skiing trails of Ai-Petri, and the Angarskiy Pass skiing trail, on the eastern slope of the Chatyr-Dag mountain mass. Here a mountain infrastructure is briskly developing — in addition to the lift , a chain of cafes, equipment rental points and a mini-hotel are under construction.
Aero tourism is one of the youngest kinds of tourism on the peninsula, however it has great perspectives and opportunities for development.
In Koktebel you will be welcomed to rise on a hang-glider or an airplane and to fly above  Koktebel bay and a reserved volcano the Kara-Dag. In Simferopol, Yalta  and Sevastopol during the summer period helicopter excursions operate above Crimean mountains and Black sea. They are rather popular nowadays among tourists from Russia and abroad, because the give wonderful opportunity to sea the whole peninsula.

Rural (green) tourism
Every year more and more people prefer  taking their vacations in the countryside of coastal and mountain parts of Crimea. Being far away from noisy, fashionable southern resorts one can enjoy the beauty of nature, peace and harmony of simple life. Rural tourism is defined as  tourist activity in territory of rural settlements where there are conditions for long and for short-term rest, a non-polluting landscape, suitable for reception of tourists’ and all necessary services.
It’s a perfect combination for those tourists, who have got tired from “civilization”: staying in the small house in the mountain village of Crimea and having new adventures every day- hiking, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, mountaineering and exploring the caves, and other kinds of activities, available in Crimea.

That is all, what I was going to tell you about the resources for development of active kinds of tourism in the Crimea, and if you have any questions concerning my report, I will be glad to give you full information.
Thank you for your attention.

TAURIDA NATIONAL VERNADSKY UNIVERSITY

The Recreational Resources for Active Kinds of Tourism in Crimea

Rusanova A.I.
a second year student
Department of Geography
Tourism

Scientific advisers:
Yakovenko I. M.
(Chair of economic and social geography)
Filipchenko O. I.
(Chair of foreign language)

Simferopol 2005

Introduction
The United Nations Organization defines the tourism as all kinds of movements which are not connected with  the change of a constant residence, but with the purpose of rest, participation in scientific, business and cultural meetings, and also visit of the relatives. Active (sport) tourism is defined as such kinds of recreational activity that requires physical stamina and fitness; sometimes it is  accompanied by risk for a tourist’s life  and an increase in level adrenalin in blood. For  the Crimea the most popular of them are as follows : trekking, cycling, horse riding, diving, yachting, speleotourism, mountaineering and rock-climbing, aero tourism. During the last years these kinds of tourism receive the increasing development and enjoy popularity both abroad and in countries of CIS. The rational development of new kinds of tourism will allow not only to increase the number of tourists, but also will help to decide a problem of seasonal prevalence, so actual in the Crimea.

The tourist activity has a mass character in dry and hot summer period , however the  cold period of a year, excluding winter holidays, is a «dead» season. The liquidation of seasonal prevalence pursues both ecological and economic goals. From ecological point of view the partial smoothing over seasonal oscillations in the number of the tourists allow to reduce the  load on nature, water resources  and etc. during mass rest.
Most of the tourists, arriving to  the Crimea, goes, first of all, in the rest at  the seafront. But this rest is seasonal, while mountains and the reserves are attractive and  accessible the year round. Various kinds of active rest, tourism and sport, usual for the Alps, make today global industry. In Canada, the USA, countries of Southern America, in Southern African Republic, New Zealand and Australia this part of tourist business has became prestigious, dynamically developed and   profitable. Beside the eternal snow and eternal ice, the Crimea now can be rather attractive destination in Ukraine, providing  all kinds of active mountain rest, which have been developed in the Alps and Mediterranean; including the same snow and ice, but only in winter period.

    1. TREKKING
The  Crimea is a cradle of native foot tourism. In 1890 the tourist organization (first in Russia) «the Crimean mountain club» was created. Since that time Crimean mountains have become a favorite place for those, who are into resting  «with a knapsack»
Any walking tour, starting with a one-day hike, which does not require skills or special equipment, is known abroad as hiking. Overnight stays can be arranged in hotels, tourist centers, as well as in tents on the camping sites available on a hiking route. As for trekking, it usually requires professional skills and equipment.
The Crimea equally appeals to active recreation fans and professionals. Roughly, all hiking trails can be divided into those, over the mountainous Crimea and covering its western and eastern areas.
The landscape of the south of the Crimea feature clearly defined mountain forms, such as sheer walls, canyons, swift mountain rivers. Wild nature of the mountain «yailas» (in Turkic, dzhaylyau mean mountain pasture) neighbors the exquisite parks and palaces of the South Coast. The western Crimea abounds in historic monuments ranging from the antique to the late medieval periods. The most popular are the routs of  «cave towns» of the western Crimea, where tourists can see medieval towns Tepe-Kermen, Eski-Kermen, Mangup, «cave» monasteries. Other great tourists’ attraction here are natural wonders: Crimean Black Canyon,  Black River Canyon, trips to the summits of the Crimean Mountains Main Range. The eastern Crimea beckons tourists with its boundless woods, spacious alpine meadows, dazzling views of the Main and Middle Ranges, karst caves of Karabi — Yaila. Its tourist potential is just huge — from the landscape diversity to the unique historical and archaeological, architectural and ethnographical  attractions.

2. CYCLING
Mountain Crimea is an ideal area for development of mountain cycle tourism. The forked net­work of horse and tourists pathways, rural roads create excellent ranges for fans of a mountain bicycle. Mountain biking in the Crimea can offer options of any difficulty and carter for all ages.
Southwestern Crimea (between the cities of Simferopol — Bakhchisarai — Sevastopol — Yalta — Alushta) is most interesting and perspective for a mountain cycle tourism. Southern coast of Crimea — the most complex area for a cycle tourism because of the big drops of height. The most complex routes are: Angarsk pass (758 m) — peak of Eklizi-burun (1527 m); des­cending on a track from the cave city of Mangup; ascent to the plateau Ai-Petri (1234 meters), and then descent aside the Grand Canyon of Crimea. There are followers of driving across Flat Crimea, especially on coast of Tarkhankut, Kazantip and Kerch peninsula.

3. HORSE RIDING
Boundless Crimean steppes and large mountain meadows are habitable by horses, which feel like here in their element. The harmonious combination of beauty of a graceful animal and the wonderful nature has positively affected on the prospects of development of horse tourism in the Mountain Crimea. Now some large horse-racing bases are operating on peninsula. On the basis of some of them during several years children camps successfully work. The horse-racing camp «Career» located in mountains above Yalta. It works since 1988 and it is most known and for the first time in Crimea there were organized the horse of many days tours. Today tours of club «Career», unique in the CIS countries, are included in the international catalogue of horse tours. From other horse-racing bases of mountain Crimea we should mention the «Atlantic» base with children camp in Baidarskaya Valley, horse-racing club «Burulcha», horse base «Zolotaya Podkova» in Alushta.

4. ROCK-CLIMBING   AND    MOUNTAINEERING.
There is no mountaineering in its classical sense with the eternal ice and the penetrating wind  in Crimea, but perfect conditions for rock-climbing — both for beginners, and for professionals are created here. Opportunities for diversifying and increasing loads, for developing new technical skills, testing new equipment are just unlimited. Rock-climbing is technically, physically, psychologically demanding and requires an intense prior training, as well as using special gear. A good rock-climbing season in the Crimea is from April to mid June and from September till mid November.
Annually in the autumn on rocks at the Foros the championships of Moscow on rock-climbing are carried out. Many rock-climbing-dromes in Crimea attract climbers not only from the CIS, but also from the many countries. The Sokol, Alchak, Karaul-Oba mountains are most popular in Sudak, Peter Rocks at Simferopol Nikita cleft near Yalta, on Southern coast of Crimea there are rocks Paragelmen, the Red Stone, the Cat, Ah-Petri, Alupka, Kastropol wall and Foros wall. The steep rock of the mountain Stavri-Kaya is well known among rock-climbers of whole world and it is towered above Yalta.
5.SPELEO-TOURISM.
Crimean mountains are classical region of evolution of the Mediterranean karsts, the real museum of karstic formations of a relief from which horizontal caves and vertical mines are most interesting. Here and there underground rivers run fast in the caves, coming out in ice-cold springs and most beau­tiful waterfalls.
According to the data, about 900 karstic caves, mines, wells were totaled in Crimea. The biggest of caves is Kizil-Koba (Red Cave) near with village Perevalnoye in Simferopol district. It has six floors, an underground small river,  several lakes; its length is 22 kilometres nowadays, and every year new halls are being discovered. The deepest cavity — Soldier’s mine on massif Karabi. Each cave is unique and beautiful. The Marble cave belongs to the grade of «five» of the most beautiful caves of a planet. The underground concerts of classical and jazz music, festivals of bard songs take place in the Marble cave several times during the year with great success. Equally interesting for «civilized» tourists can be visits to cave Emine-Bair-Hosar, Red Cave, the Three-eye Cave, Cold Cave, Cave of Thousand Heads, MAN, Buzluk. But the most interesting speleo roots lie in less accessible caves and karstic wells of Chatyrdag, Ai-Petri, Karabi, Dolgorukov Mountain pasture. When organized on a professional level, such routs can be unforgettable, fortified with a strong touch of adrenalin, leaving long-life memories.

6. WINTER KINDS OF TOURISM
Every year, winter kinds of tourism are getting more and more rooted in the Crimea. Though Crimean winters often bring little snow, the mountain summits -yailas — enjoy rather long-staying snow cov­ers which attracts an army of mountain ski­ing and snow-boarding lovers. Most popular are the mountain skiing trails of Ai-Petri, which feature a number of rope tows, and in the winter season of 2005 a mountain skat­ing-rink is to be launched. The top draw for locals from Alushta and Simferopol is the Angarskiy Pass skiing trail, on the eastern slope of the Chatyr-Dag mountain mass. Here a mountain infrastructure is briskly developing — in addition to the lift and the trail proper, a chain of cafes, equipment rental points and a mini-hotel are under construction. A few years ago, one more mountain trail was open to tourists — on the lower plateau of Chatyr-Dag in the vicinity of Mramorniy (Marble) Cave Complex. It is not big and mostly used to receive the tourist complex visi­tors. Of late, as it is observed all over the world, extreme kinds of recreation have been coming into fashion in the Crimea. Winter is the best season for super extremes in the Crimean Mountains. Wild snowy summits of the Crimean Mountains, blown on all the sides by winter stormy winds, are an ideal spot for winter hiking enthusiasts. Of special popularity with extremes lovers is Karabi Highland in the eastern Crimea. Here, a January-February period features a snow cover of up to 1.5-2 meters high, icy stormy winds and snow storms occurring on a constant basis, com­bined with a remote location from any set­tlements. When well-outfitted with up-to-date tourist gear, guided by an experienced instructor, these tough tours bring along a real joy of the gained in the battle victory of man over the elements.

7. THE HANG-GLIDER-AERO-TOURISM.
The Crimean land has old traditions of aeronautics. Here — at the resort Koktebel such kind of sports as gliding has arisen. The unique Museum of gliding and parachuting is placed here (there are only two such museums in the world — the second one is in New York), the meetings clubs of hang gliding from all CIS are held here annually. In Koktebel you will be welcomed to rise on a hang-glider or an airplane and to fly above fine Koktebel bay and a reserved volcano the Kara-Dag. Almost on each Crimean be­ach you can get the mini-flight on a para­chute behind a motor boat going on waves. Now at services of visitors of peninsula there is a collection of aero routes is sub­mitted, each of which represents terrific show and gives the unforgettable impres­sions for all life. In Simferopol, Yalta  and Sevastopol during the summer period helicopter excursions operate above Crimean mountains and the Black sea. The flight lasts for about 40 minutes, and costs not very much, but if tourist get his video camera with him, he can take wonderful views of mountains and seaside of Crimea by his own hands.

8. DIVING.
Diving, or underwater swimming, became popular in the Crimea during last decade. To a great extent, it can be attributed to the today’s enhanced reliability of diving equipment. That is the reason for great amount of diving-clubs, where training is available, and diving-centers, which offer interesting underwater routs and diving programs. The most popular and interesting objects of underwater flora and fauna are: the grottoes and caves of the Swallow’s Nest, Matyan Cape and Ayu-Dag, the Adalari Rocks in Gurzuf Bay.  Remains of ancient civilizations, medieval and new time ships and airplanes one could find in 15 bays of Sevastopol. There are interesting objects at Tarkhankut cape: among them are the cape Atlesh and «The Alley of Soviet Liders» (monuments of Lenin, Stalin, Bregnev etc. situated underwater).
The coastal part of water area of peninsula abounds fine sights, diving caves-grottoes, stone cha­os and infinite sandy deserts. Hundreds spe­cies of wonderful fishes and seaweed can­not leave anybody indifferent. And, cer­tainly, everybody feels a storm of emoti­ons visiting the sunk antique city with lo­ose of pieces of amphoras, a find of an an­chor from a medieval sailing vessel, a touch to metal of the military plane, the ship or a submarine.

9. YACHT TOURISM
Yacht tourism is striving all through the world. If in 2000 ten million people gave preference to this kind of active recreation, accord­ing to the World Tourist Organization forecast, by 2005 this number can rise to 12 millions. Yachting, for all its high costs, attracts more and more enthusiasts.
In Ukraine, excellent water resources are available in actu­ally all the regions. A Ukraine’s shoreline is about 2,000 kilometer long, and half of it meets the requirements of tourism. On its south Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Combined with unique nature, favorable cli­mate, most scenic land­scapes, cities and cen­turies-old history and culture, this cannot but be highly attractive to yachting lovers from abroad.
First of all, this con­cerns the Crimea with its unique nature resources. No wonder, that the Crimeans were the first enthusiasts in Ukraine to promote yachting development. Currently, efforts on marinas creation in the Crimea have renewed: in Sevastopol, renova­tion of the Black Sea Yacht Club com­menced, in Alushta, the implementation phase of a marina construction investment project is under­way. In Evpatoria, a marina project is being developed, in Balaklava a project is ready on organization of the private yacht-club in the bay on the basis of the unique 40-meter schooner «Novaya», which is similar to the sea-hunting boat «Fram», sailed by the famous Norwegian Amundsen.
Strong interest in yacht development in Ukraine is shown by Turkey, as transit servicing of yacht-men head­ing for Ukrainian shores can pay off. The more so, because now an intensive promotion of the program of passage from the Baltic Sea via the Kiel channel, the Danube to the Black Sea and further to the Mediterranean is on. The project awoke interest of the Germans, Dutch, Danes, and even Norwegians, who when going along the new itinerary are sure to be willing to see the sights of countries and regions of the Black Sea basin.

10. RURAL (GREEN) TOURISM.
Every year more and more people prefer to take their vacations at the countryside of coastal and mountain parts of Crimea. Being far away from noisy, fashion southern resorts one can enjoy the beauty of nature, peace and harmony of simple life. Rural tourism is not considered to be active form of recreation, but can be excellent staying base for tourists.
In Europe this kind of tourism is known as Rural or Green Tourism. Rural tourism is a tourist activity in territory of rural settlements where there are conditions for long and for short-term rest, a non-polluting landscape, suitable for reception of tourists’ rural habitation and necessary objects of service. 20 European countries have united into the European Federation of Farm and Village Tourism- EuroGites for common development and promotion of the rural product. Union for the Assistance of the Rural and Green Tourism Development in the Crimea is since May 2003 the member of this organization, too.  In Crimea the «Union of assistance to development of rural green tourism in Crimea» operates, the scientific-practical conferences, collect the experts of theorists and practical experts in the field of rural tourism.   From the very beginning three main trends of the Union’s activity were clearly defined: promotion of Crimean rural product, cooperation with small national museums and ethnic centers, production of national souvenirs. Crimean society takes the big efforts for attraction of visitors on rest in rural regions from abroad.
Several Crimean tourist companies are specializing in Rural Green Tourism and are sug­gesting an interesting routes all over the Crimea with accommodation in private houses with different living conditions: from very modest to very comfortable. Hiking, swimming in the sea, gathering mushrooms and berries at the forest, hunting and fishing, eating natural fruits and vegetables from the garden — all this pleasures are available at very modern rates or even completely free. Rural tourism in Crimea is good opportunity to have full value holidays, improve health and get unforgettable impressions.
The development of rural tourism industry is very perspective tendency in tourism in Crimea. It can solve such problems as the lack of accommodation on the Southern coast of Crimea, excessive increase of prices during high season at the seaside.
At the present time, when a financial support of the national govern­ment is tending to reduce, the rural green tourism, with its various forms and directions, is acquiring a crucial impor­tance for economic survival of the village population. The rural tourism is essential for economic diversity and preser­vation of the cultural valuables of the countryside. The modern tourist market needs a personalized, individual and untraditional «product». Such minor enterprises, as rural green households, are more preferable for a fragile ecolo­gy of the village locality, than a mass tourism. And, definite­ly it’s necessary for the development of such field of eco­nomics as tourism as a whole.
The Crimean rural tourism is making its first steps, but much has already been done on its development. There are rural householders, ready to meet guests in six regions of the Crimea: in the forest, mountains, seaside and step zones. The cultural -ethnic centers: Crimean-Tatar, Greek, Ukrainian and German, were open. The masters of the folk handcrafts were taught, who create the unique souvenir production, combining the tradition­al techniques with demands of today.
It’s a perfect combination for those tourists, who have got tired from “civilization”: staying in the small house in the mountain village of Crimea and having new adventures every day- hiking, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, mountaineering and exploring the caves, and other kinds of activities, available in Crimea.

Reference list
1. Crimean Holidays #2 – “Express polygraph” — Simferopol/ 2004 /  p.6
2. Crimean Holidays #1/– “Express polygraph” — Simferopol 2005 / p. 38
3. I. Rusanov, K. Rusanov. Time to come to the Crimea. Short practical   guide-book- Simferopol: Business-Inform, 2003 ( Russian and English)
4. www.tour.crimea.com
5. «Крым. ХоббиТуры 2004», автор текста: Хачатурян В. В. — Симферополь: «Терра Таврика», 2004 — с. 5-18
6.  Коваленко И. Это наши горы. Они помогут нам?  Терра  Таврика — №1(95)- 2004 — с. 14-15

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