Igor Skikevich on inclusive tourism in Primorye

The map of inclusive tourism was finalized and improved in the Tourist Information Center of the Primorsky Territory (Visit Primorye). 

In the development of the map of inclusive tourism, Igor Skikevich, the first Russian para-traveller, para-tourism expert, public figure, chairman of the Commission for the Development of Para-tourism of the Primorsky Regional Branch of the Russian Geographic Society - the Amur Region Studies Society, took an active part. We wrote more about this in our article “Visit Primorye Tourist Information Center continues to improve the map of inclusive tourism”. It can be viewed by

This year began its work Center for Paratourism of the Primorsky Territory, created by Igor Skikevich, performing the functions of designing, organizing and promoting affordable tourist product and services aimed at involving disabled people in the process of studying and familiarizing with the history, geography and culture of the native land. The concept of local lore, cultural, cognitive, social, civic-patriotic programs and events on accessible tourist routes for the disabled – “Heritage of the Primorsky Territory” was developed. Since 2018, Igor Skikevich has already carried out and continues to conduct a huge work in the survey on the availability of interesting locations for excursions and hikes. He collected colossal practical material, and in this he is actively assisted by local historians A. Mezentsev and V. Davydov, with whom hundreds of kilometers were traveled. The following routes are being prepared for implementation: “Arsenyev Path”, “Pearl of Primorye”, “In Search of Waterfalls of Primorye”, “Marine Heritage” and “Far Eastern Frontiers”. Together with the Tourist and Information Center of the Primorsky Territory (Visit Primorye), cognitive inclusive route guides and quest routes will be created. There are also individual extreme para-alpinist routes using climbing equipment, which have no analogues in Russia. 

Director of the Vladivostok club of speleologists Yuzan Ilya and head of the Sports Club of Mountaineering "Vostok" Alexander Ishchenko professionally help organize routes with disabled people in the discipline of "para-alpinism". Together with Igor Skikevich, four rocky extreme routes and a hinged rope crossing for wheelchair users have already been worked out in the wheelchair. New para-alpinist routes are being developed. And people with disabilities will now be able to visit even those places where mammoths once lived in the Primorsky Territory. 

For the objective conduct of excursions by certified specialists of the Paratourism Center, a thorough examination and examination of the accessibility of tourist, cultural and leisure, engineering, transport infrastructures and sightseeing facilities is carried out. And if necessary and at the request of the organization will conduct certification of the desired object. Anatoly Vorontsov, as a leading expert on accessible environment throughout the Far East, conducts qualified consultations and training in the basics of an accessible environment, including training in the ethics of communication with people with disabilities. He trains specialists in obtaining knowledge on research and adaptation of organizations on the accessible environment in all its aspects.

Anatoly is a member of the Commission for the Development of Paratourism of the PKO RGS-JIAC. The Commission for the Development of Paratourism also includes five certified experts from Sochi, Novorossiysk, Moscow, Belgorod, Anapa, who share their many years of experience in the development of sports, mountain, recreational affordable tourism and paradiving. Anatoly Vorontsov and Igor Skikevich are developing a plan to create an inclusive beach, where the world's first underwater self-propelled wheelchair "Barracuda", invented by Igor, will be used.

The material was prepared by Igor Skikevich using information   Tourist Information Center of Primorsky Krai (Visit Primorye)