Advancing the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Insights from the Inaugural All-Russian Conference at Adyghe State University

The inaugural All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference titled "Strategies for the Development of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry in the Regions: Experience, Problems, Prospects" has commenced at Adyghe State University. Over 120 applications have been submitted for participation from diverse locations, including Moscow, Astrakhan, Volgograd, Donetsk, Krasnodar, Maikop, Nalchik, Rostov-on-Don, and Tambov. Attendees include representatives from universities and colleges specializing in training professionals for the tourism sector, relevant government bodies, and industry practitioners, all convening to discuss pressing issues regarding the advancement of the tourism industry. This conference coincides with the 85th anniversary of Adyghe State University.

Tourism stands as one of the pivotal sectors within the Russian economy. Currently, the industry aims to achieve substantial goals, including increasing its contribution to the country's GDP to 5% by 2030, tripling the export of tourism services, and raising the number of domestic tourist trips to 140 million annually. To realize these objectives, it is imperative to enhance tourism infrastructure, attract adequate investment, improve transportation logistics, advance information technologies relevant to the tourism sector, and ensure the training of an ample workforce. According to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, by 2025, the personnel shortage in the Russian tourism and hospitality sector is projected to reach 250,000 individuals, amid an existing workforce of approximately 1 million. Experts anticipate that by 2030, the demand for personnel will escalate to at least 400,000, comprising 320,000 employees for the hotel industry and 80,000 for the tourism service sector.

During the plenary session, participants engaged in discussions surrounding a comprehensive multi-level system for training and retraining personnel within the tourism and hospitality industry at Adyghe State University. Topics included innovative training methodologies implemented through the Educational Center for the Tourism Industry and Services of the Republic of Adygea, the current state of tourism development strategies within the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, employers’ criteria for selecting and hiring personnel, and other pertinent challenges facing the industry today.

As previously highlighted, ASU adopts a comprehensive approach to training specialists for the tourism and hospitality industry, encompassing three educational levels: secondary, higher, and additional professional education. This multi-tiered personnel training system represents a flexible and adaptable educational model that aligns with the current demands of the labor market and the evolving socio-economic conditions of the region.

Beginning in 2023, the university has launched an updated bachelor's degree program in "Integrated Service Management in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry." The ultimate objective of this program is to cultivate mid-level managers equipped with professional competencies in project management and leadership within the tourism sector. Graduates will possess the ability to analyze market trends, forecast developments for upcoming seasons, identify emerging trends, create innovative tourism products and services, foster regional development, navigate crises, and engage in self-directed learning. To ensure the preparation of highly sought-after professionals who can seamlessly transition into the industry post-graduation, the Faculty of Social Technologies and Tourism has established robust collaborations with employers over the years. This collaboration has led to the incorporation of practice-oriented training methodologies, including master classes, intensive courses led by industry specialists, educational excursions to enterprises, and a structured internship component during the summer, all integral to the educational program. Students with a focus on industry engagement are placed in internships at enterprises located in Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory.

The thematic sections and poster sessions that will follow the conference will address regional aspects of tourism and hospitality development under contemporary conditions, the sustainable advancement of regions as tourist destinations, the challenges of digital transformation within the tourism landscape, creative technologies in tourism, and the experience economy. Special emphasis will be placed on social technologies, strategies for developing social tourism, as well as the critical issues of environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference titled "Strategies for the Development of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry in the Regions: Experience, Problems, Prospects" will take place at ASU over the course of two days. This event is organized by the Scientific and Educational Cluster "Institute of Life Quality" at ASU, with the support of the Committee of the Republic of Adygea for Tourism and Resorts, the project office of the Lago-Naki Resort, and the Adygea Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Education.