From Astro to Gastro — Shaping the Tourism Strategy for Oryol Polesye

The Government of the Oryol Region has reviewed preliminary scenarios for tourism development in areas adjacent to the Oryol Polesye National Park. As part of a strategic session, representatives of government, business, expert communities, and civil society assessed a range of concepts — including the creation of an astrotourism platform and a гастрономический cluster in the Khotynets district.

Participants included specialists from regional departments responsible for spatial development projects, economic development and investment policy, state property and land relations, culture, as well as regulatory authorities and urban planning bodies. Representatives from three municipal districts and the Directorate for Protected Natural Areas also took part.

The session forms part of a broader initiative to establish a tourism and recreation special economic zone in the region. The analytical groundwork for this initiative is being developed in partnership with regional authorities by LLC “CENTER LAB” — the International Urbanist Laboratory. During the session, the team presented initial findings based on nearly six months of research, including field surveys across Polesye and sociological studies involving both local residents and potential visitors from other regions.

According to Andrey Karpov, Head of the Regional Department for Spatial Development Projects, the objective is to align stakeholder perspectives and create a development framework that unlocks the full potential of the national park. He emphasized that Oryol Polesye — a key natural asset of the region — should become a distinctive destination and play a strategic role in the development of Russian tourism.

Kseniya Polyaeva, analyst-economist at LLC “CENTER LAB”, noted that a special economic zone serves as a mechanism to attract investment flows into strategically significant sectors. Its establishment requires demonstrating positive revenue dynamics and meeting key criteria — including the scale of investment projects, with total investment expected to exceed RUB 8 billion.

Experts proposed the development of approximately 60 tourism and transport infrastructure facilities, structured across seven clusters:

• An eco-education cluster featuring a bison park, an “astronomy field,” and a hotel complex
• The “Bolkhov Cathedral Ring” — including a bell-ringing school and immersive cultural experiences
• A historical and archaeological cluster near Bulatovo village — with a museum and hands-on excavation programs
• A гастрономический cluster in Bulatovo — including a cheese-making school and eco-farm experiences
• A folklore cluster in Ilyinskoye — with an ethno-hotel and participation in traditional rural activities
• A noble estate cluster in Zlyn — featuring hippotherapy and a boutique hotel
• A water and fishing cluster — with a fishing school and themed glamping facilities

Ilya Smirnov, Head of Analytics at LLC “CENTER LAB”, highlighted that the cluster-based approach is the most effective model for the territory. Existing points of attraction are geographically dispersed but thematically specialized. By strengthening them with infrastructure and programming, the region can significantly increase its attractiveness and unlock new growth drivers.

Regional participants also contributed additional proposals — including the exploration of local mineral water and therapeutic mud resources, the introduction of a military-historical cluster, the development of auto-tourism, and enhanced navigation systems within the national park.

All feedback and proposals will be incorporated into the final version of the study — creating a comprehensive framework for integrated development and long-term tourism growth in the region.

Photo: Press Service of the Governor of the Oryol Region