Culture and event tourism as a growing industry is a significant generator of new jobs. It is a promising source of export growth in the CBC area. Currently the SMEs in a field of culture and hospitality industries and other actors are unable to utilize cross-border possibilities in the North Karelia and the Russian Karelia. Even around the most attractive travel destinations situated in Lieksa and Koli on the Finnish side and the Vottovaara park situated just across the border on the Russian side, the tourism companies and other relevant stakeholders do not collaborate cross-border, and new services are not developed and promoted. For international tourists interested in cross-border services, there is little information and very few culture services available. The international tourists interested in crossing these unique frontiers to experience contrasts in culture, nature, food people etc. can not find what they are looking for.
It is well-known that tourism operations affect other sectors positively and are therefore recognized as one of the main sources of new business development at the cross-border territories (i.e. in Koli region and in Ruuna, also in the Muezerksy region and Vottovaara territory). Attracting the interest of international tourists requires new type of cross-border action in these regions. The unique cross-border element (culture, language and traditions) of these regions is globally unique. The societies on both sides the border can benefit from taking this element into action by enabling development of new types of cross-border services for global tourists.
It is planned to discuss with the Finnish partner on how to improve the cooperation across the border and to recognize new tourism services and culture product possibilities, so that the SMEs would be enabled to utilize the CBC opportunities in the regions of Lieksa / Koli regions and Muezerka / Vottovaara regions. These regions have already narrow economic structure even before ongoing structural changes, and therefore existing tourism potential based upon the cultural identity of the local territories should be exploited to support regional development and inhabitants’ possibility to make their living in the region.