Tourist boom: the number of visitors to the “Land of the leopard” was a record

The Directorate of Reserves “Land of the Leopard” in Primorsky Krai received a record number of tourists in 2023 – the number of guests for the first time exceeded the mark of 165 thousand. This is 25% more than a year earlier. Since the beginning of the decade, the number of visitors has increased 27 times. The main reasons for success were the development of ecotourism infrastructure, holding festivals, as well as increasing interest in the unique nature and wildlife of protected areas, where rare Amur tigers and Far Eastern leopards live. The Directorate also actively cooperates with local residents, schools and universities, promoting environmental education and a conscious attitude to nature. The growth occurred thanks to a team of professionals, guides and specialists of the tourism department "Lands of the Leopard".

An important aspect was the work on the scientific assessment of the permissible load on some natural objects. So, in 2023, third-party experts of the scientific and technical council of the Land of the Leopard approved a new quota for visiting the Astafiev Bay of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve - from 400 to 800 people a day. Comprehensive environmental studies have shown no negative impact on the state of the water area. In addition, the owner of the territory near the reserved sea has equipped garbage collection places, toilets here, which helps to keep the standard bay clean.

The tourist potential of the Land of the Leopard has not yet been exhausted, and in the future it is planned to expand and improve the opportunities for exploring the natural south-west of Primorye, while respecting the requirements for the protection and conservation of biodiversity. We always monitor the observance of the rules of visiting in protected areas, do not allow to disturb the tranquility of wild animals, – said Victor Bardyuk, Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Land of the Leopard”.

Ecological tourism on the “Land of the Leopard” gives an opportunity to touch the unique nature of South-Western Primorye and at the same time do not harm it. The flagship of this direction remains the ecotrope “Kravtsov Waterfalls”, opened in 2022. The flooring path opened access to the natural object to tens of thousands of people, while protecting the place from trampling, debris and ultimately from death. A large number of people visit the Gamovsky section of the Land of the Leopard National Park with excursions to the reindeer park and protected bays. Another popular destination was a multi-day individual tour “In the footsteps of wild cats”. Many tourists visited photo shelters and personally captured free cats in a natural environment, without cages and fences. Also a significant role in the record was played by the popularity of the comfortable hotel "Central Estate" - the main location of the national park "Land of the Leopard". Going here on weekends and on vacation, in addition to the health center, many of its guests visited the nearby ecological routes "Leopard's Path" and "Semiverstka". All funds received from the development of ecotourism go to measures to preserve the Far Eastern leopard and the Amur tiger from poaching, natural fires and other threats