Djailoo-tourism as a way to revive the culture of the peoples of the Mari El Republic and the ability of establishing authentic Mari Skansen

The article presents a project of jailoo-tour in the Mari village. The aspects of the culture and life of ancient Mari are studied. Based on the analysis of natural factors, national characteristics and history of the region the project jailoo- tour is created. Investigations of people’s interest in this tourism product are conducted. The concept of jailoo tour in the Mari village focused on creation of feeling «trip to the past». It includes: infrastructure (estate with adjacent ter- ritory - port), the national cuisine (mainly cakes - shergindy, pies - Cogolo, pancakes - Coman melna), the main types of Mari activities (basket weaving, national embroidery, bee-keeping, etc.), national holidays (Shorykyol, Kugeche, Sÿrem, Uginde), and, of course, the representatives of this ethnic group, having sufficient knowledge in culture and history of the Mari El Republic. Tourist complex of Mari village should become a kind of local skansen (ethnographic complex - open-air museum): the tourists could get acquainted with the lifestyle of the Mari people here. The national religion of Mari is the additional factor of attraction tourists. Mari people are the only pagans in Europe, their rituals and sacrifices today are visited by a lot of people. This work had been accomplished in accordance with the Federal target program «Development of domestic tourism in the Russian Federation (2011-2018)», as well as the Republican target program «Tourism development in the Mari El for 2011-2016». To date, the development of domestic tourism is a priority; significant attention is paid to the develop- ment of tourist cluster in the region. In this regard, this project has a chance of being realized.