Tourism is considered a priority for the mid- and long-term socio-economic development of the Muezersky District.

The factors favouring tourism development in the district are:

• good ecological situation, no heavy metal pollution, gaseous emissions within MPC;

• gateway location and vicinity of popular tourist routes in the Ruuna area, Finland;

• numerous cultural, historical, natural and geological monuments in the district;

• family relationships between people in Finland and in the district;

• sites of past military action (nostalgic, military history and patriotic tourism).

Table 1. Priority types of tourism to be developed in the Muezersky District,
and their target groups

Trends in tourism development Kinds of tourism and tourist products Target groups Thematic and special-interest tourism Excursions to traditional Karelian villages People interested in national traditions and history, scientists, researchers Participation in folklore and national festivals and events People interested in national traditions and history, scientists, researchers, seminar and conference participants, cultural delegations Ecotourism and visits to protected areas Groups and individuals interested in ecology, schoolchildren and students Culture- and history-based tourism Scientists and researchers, academic groups, participants of military campaigns, seminar participants and official delegations Walking nature tours Academic groups, tourist clubs, individuals Hobby-oriented tourism (fishing, hunting, "snow" safari, berry and mushroom picking) Groups and individuals coming to fish, hunt, pick berries, mushrooms, medicinal plants, etc. Sport tourism (skiing, water tours, whitewater rafting, bicycle tours, orienteering) Sportsman groups, individuals, participants of sport competitions, skiing enthusiasts, adventure tourists, orienteering groups, youth groups Business travel Organisation of scientific and academic events Academic groups, scientists and researchers, participants of workshops, conferences, symposia, scientific expeditions Business trips People on business trips, members of official delegations, negotiators, scientists, entrepreneurs Other types of tourism Bonus, health and recreational tourism Groups from enterprises and establishments with fixed-period vacation packages, active recreation enthusiasts, individuals in search of recreation and entertainment Visiting relatives and vacations at hosting families Small groups and individuals visiting relatives, personally invited tourists

Experts: E. Nemkovich, Yu. Saveliev