NATURE-BASED TOURISM AND CONDITIONS OF ITS DEVELOPMENT IN TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION

Abstract

Preserving the environment for future generations is one of the most important tasks in all regions. Increasing urbanization processes and the resulting adverse environment made society and a human being pay attention to nature and communicate with it. Nature-oriented forms of tourism are called in special and popular literature: mild, nature (natural), mountain (alpine), rural (green, agrotourism), environmental. The purpose of the study: the development of nature-based forms of tourism in the Transcarpathian region. The aim is to define the role and place of the nature tourism in nature-based forms of tourism; to consider the preconditions for their development in the Transcarpathian region. Analysis of national and international literature on the subject of geographical research; use of historical-geographical approach to the study of the subject of research; comparison and synthesis of the research tasks. Transcarpathian region is one of the most attractive regions of Ukraine, where, along with modern recreational and tourist attractions areas of “wilderness” e. i. untouched nature can be found. This is the basis for the development of “new” forms of tourism in the area, which includes nature-based tourism (including – nature tourism), which is based on the use of resources, environment and development that require “wild” natural systems and their biodiversity, environmentally friendly territory, where economic activity has not changed the landscape. The basic condition for the development of nature tourism is its ecological orientation, that means it should contribute to the conservation of the natural environment and be aiming for a tourist to obtain new knowledge about nature and the world around us while traveling. The advantages of nature-based tourism is that it can be performed in amateur and in an organized form, is an effective kind of nature use and promotes the sustainable development of territories. In a general sense nature tourism is a complex of forms and ways of leisure travel in the natural environment the main advantage of which is integrity of nature or its components, and the purpose of the stay in the environment is getting new experiences, positive emotions from contact with nature and learning and exploring nature.Taking into account these characteristics it can be noted that the Transcarpathian region has all the preconditions for the development of nature tourism (natural geographic, ecological, social and economic) for sustainable development of the region. Environmental priorities of nature tourism are to ensure the preservation of pristine landscapes and wildlife on the part of local communities and travelers. Social priority aims to provide interesting and meaningful staying in the environment for tourists, improvement of life quality for local residents, maintenance of principles and requirements of nature tourism. Economic priorities are to support sustainable development of the most vulnerable and valuable areas.