Problematic

Tourism is one of the key opportunities to improve the well-being of the city. But tourists will never come to most Russian cities. Here are the reasons:

Decision

Our method of city development is based precisely on tourism. And we propose to develop tourism based on urbanism and analysis. The method below has several advantages:

- it is not necessary to spend a lot of money

- can be quickly implemented

- assumes sustainable development

- local resources are used (values, environment, entrepreneurs, communities)

- there is an understanding of the vectors of further development

It will benefit everyone:

The method is based on three steps:

1. Correctly position existing values and use local resources

It is important that tourists can easily recognize the city's core values and use them easily. For this, we conduct an analytical study, which includes the study of the history of the city, the current situation, architectural features and the identification of local values.

2. Create high-quality recognizable services

To do this, it is necessary to provide manufacturers of local services and products with a service that allows them to organize promotion and sale with maximum audience coverage, as well as to legally do business easily and «without problems».

3. Systematically inform

For this, an online and offline platform is being created, which is the center for the aggregation, representation and sale of the region's valuable resources.

As a result of these steps:

the rating of the whole region will rise

tourist traffic will increase

small business will get on its feet and attract additional investment

local patriotism will increase

Step 1. Correct positioning of local values

This method is suitable for a settlement of any size – from a village to a metropolis. The following criteria were used to select the object of research:

Drezna was chosen as the first city. The city is not well known, has no deep history and, at first glance, is not at all interesting. But we will prove the opposite! If the method works for such an inconspicuous city, then it will work even more for a city with history and notable sights.

Drezna is located between Pavlovsky Posad and Orekhovo-Zuevo and can become an additional stopping point on the way between the cities:

Historical reference:

Periodization of development:

Historical buildings:

Constructivism:

Wooden houses:

Brick buildings before the 1970s:

Towers and pipes:

Monuments and sculptures:

 Unique objects:

Religious sites:

As a result, objects of special architectural value were identified:

View points:

Landscape features:

City's legends:

Microtoponyms:

Local values:

Scenarios of tourists staying in the city

Today there is nothing for a tourist to do in the city. But if a tourist knows where to go and what to see, he can spend up to five hours in the city. We have already collected all the information and mapped it. Now you need to organize it and build routes.

A tourist enters the city (by car, bus or train). We determine the places for the possible location of tourist information centers or information desks.

We compose several routes of different lengths.

A short route (hereinafter, points of possible development of additional services are highlighted in red):

Long route:

We identify problem areas along the route. These areas need to be corrected / improved / landscaped: somewhere to make a sidewalk, somewhere to carry out a sanitary pruning, somewhere to organize a pedestrian crossing, etc. All these works do not require large expenses.

Analysis of existing travel services. Obviously, the level of services needs to be changed.

Proposals for the arrangement of public places on the route of tourists:

Positioning options:

Consolidated values of Drezna:

• manufactory

• early 20th century barracks

   

• wooden houses of the late 19th century

• lack of high-rise construction

• constructivist buildings

• a lot of greenery

 We offer options:

Program development

The program is a series of action research interventions, workshops with local business communities and activists, as a result of which local values should become a subject of demand in the global tourism market.

• open practices that generate a community that will change something
• formation of a network
• cross-sectoral interaction
• researching local resources and launching mechanisms for reclaiming local identity

Recommendations for activating a historic manufactory:

Step 2. Create high-quality information services

Tourist Information Center (TIC) is the first point of contact of a tourist with the city. At this stage, the tourist should receive information about quality services. TIC is a kind of quality filter. Some of the services are provided here, others are recommended. It is important that the TIC is a commercial enterprise (along with free and paid services) and bring profit to its owner. We propose to use a complex franchise, and develop a business plan based on the needs of each specific city.

Possible typologies:

TIC dimensions:

Depending on the specific location and on-site needs, functional blocks can be partially used, expanded or reduced

TIC works not only for tourists (and in Russia the tourist flow is directly related to the seasonality), but also for the residents of the city itself (out of season). It becomes an important cultural platform, a place where local communities are born and developed. 

Flexible functional content is possible, which can change depending on needs:

Step 3. Systematically inform