The regional recreation system of the Republic of Karelia: Development assessment by attendance of major recreational facilities

Abstract

Subject. This article discusses the development of the recreational system of the Republic of Karelia. Objectives. The article aims to propose and test a methodology for assessing the regional recreational system's development simultaneously identifying its main limitations and opportunities. Methods. For the study, I used the methods of data comparison and generalization. Results. The article describes the growth rates of the total number of visits to major recreational facilities, as well as the changes in visits and proportion of visitors in the total flow. Conclusions. The development of recreational activities as a driver of regional growth may be constrained by some barriers. To overcome them, problems related to the development of transport infrastructure and a network of accommodation facilities of various categories, as well as the accessibility and capacity of recreational facilities, must be addressed.