Actor-network relations between consumer and provider in tourism on Lake Baikal

Abstract

The authors consider actor-network relations in the interaction of providers and consumers of tourist services in the Baikal region, where tourism is integral to environmental management and sustainable development of the territory. The paper emphasizes the need for environmental management with a due regard to all stakeholder of the consumer-provider interaction system. The research method involves application of an actor-network approach. Using this approach allows us to identify not only “live” social networkers, but also other intermediaries who are not people. Currently, consumers of tourist services do not particularly need live intermediaries; their role is performed by non human intermediaries - wires and computers. The paper examines the role of information and communication technologies, tourist databases, transport, electronic booking systems, communication tools, and social networking in this relationship. The authors highlight that the development of tourism supports the local economy, which contributes to the sustainable development of the territory, but the linkage formation between the consumer and provider of tourist services is complicated by a large number of intermediaries Thus, it is surmised that the development of information infrastructure should be accompanied, or rather preceded, by the development of all other infrastructure elements (water supply, waste disposal and transport development). It was revealed that, the more connections and their diversity between a tourist camp and a potential tourist, the higher its stability and competitiveness, which can contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism industry in the Baikal region.