THE GREAT TEA ROAD: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RUSSIAN CROSS-BORDER TERRITORIES. TRANSBAIKAL REGION

Abstract

The article analyzes the tourism potential of the Transbaikal Region and opportunities for its fruitful realization provided for by the Great Tea Road tourism project. The project of the modern Great Tea Road is one of the important economic and humanitarian routes along the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative. Being one of the major international touristic projects co-developed by Russia, China and Mongolia,the project is a platform for developing cooperation and cohesion among these three countries. Participation of the Russian territories with adequate conditions for transportation, cultural and historical backgrounds might bring immense opportunities for their social and economic development based on international tourism. Nevertheless, participation of the Russian cross-border territories in the Chinese initiative might face some objective obstacles. As for Transbaikal Region, relevant questions include: non-active cooperation with the Great Tea Road communities, absence of world-famous tourism brands, poor recognition of regional attractions esp. in foreign language information space, insufficient development of the transport infrastructure. The government of Transbaikal Region alongside with the tourism community may take complex measures in order to solve these issues, such as improving the quality of tourism services and diversification of tourism destinations, development of special tourism and appropriate logistics. The Great Tea Road initiative has already been realized, and Russian cross-border territories should become a beneficial part of this project, and not just a transit territory.