Participants in the New ASU Project "ECO Path 01" Gain Insights into Unlocking the Tourism Potential of Their Local Communities in Adygea

Travel to Adygea without the need for mountain climbing. This was revealed by participants of the "ECO Path 01: Developing Accessible Tourism in Adygea for Seniors" project, launched at Adyghe State University.

The team from the university's "Adygea – Territory of Health" initiative, part of the "Priority 2030" program and led by Svetlana Ozheva, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work and Tourism at the Institute for Quality of Life Research and Education Cluster, provided a brief historical overview of the unique Maykop archaeological culture. They also highlighted the cultural and historical potential of the Giaginsky and Koshekhablsky districts, which are the regions of origin for the guests.

Furthermore, they demonstrated how excursions can be crafted around the distinctive character, toponymy, folklore, authentic cuisine, and notable figures of each settlement. As a case study, they explored the tourism potential of the village of Ulyap.

The experts also discussed the key stages of organizing a local history excursion—from defining the theme and key sites, selecting participants, ensuring comfort and safety, and even the rules for conducting the event itself. 

"The territory of Adygea is a crossroads of civilizations, preserving traces of the Bronze Age, the Scythian-Meotian culture, and ancient Adyghe traditions, reflecting the region's profound cultural heritage. We demonstrated how to present your village or stanitsa (town) in an engaging and diverse way to similar guests—elderly people from other regions—and, most importantly, how to engage schoolchildren in exploring their native land when their grandparents act as tour guides, " explained Svetlana Ozheva.

After the educational session, the participants socialized over tea. They discussed interesting facts about their communities and what they would be interested in learning about Adygea at future project meetings. 

The evening concluded with an intellectual and entertaining 100-to-1 game: "One Hundred Unique Cultural, Historical, and Natural Sites of Adygea."

The project's goal is to teach seniors how to independently organize accessible excursion routes both in Maykop and its environs, as well as in their permanent residences in the regions of Adygea. These skills will help them adapt and maintain their quality of life after retirement, as well as ensure social engagement and optimal recreational activities. The program for the next project meeting is already being developed.

Information on the potential for developing tourist routes in Ulyap can be found here.