International tourism development in Western and Eastern Siberia in the 1960-1970s

Introduction. In summer 1958 the establishment of the Bureau of International Youth Tourism (BMMT) at the Soviet Youth Tourist Organization contributed to the international tourism development. This organization carried out the arrangement of group tourist trips for foreign young people in the USSR, as well as for the Soviet young people abroad and within the Soviet Union. «Sputnik» is a member of the International Bureau of Tourism & Youth Exchanges (BITEZH) at the World Federation of Democratic Youth and the International Student Travel Conference [1].

Statement of the problem

During the 1960s and 1970s the regional branches of the International business jointstock company «Intourist» (JSC «Intourist») played a primary role in the international tourism development in the regions of Western and Eastern Siberia.

The main objectives of the JSC «Intourist» branches were aimed to improve the level of service for foreign tourists, to develop a sense of responsibility in the team for the task assigned, to improve styles and methods of awarenessbuilding and outreach efforts among foreign tourists, to upgrade professional skills.

In the 1960s the next stage in the domestic and foreign tourism development was starting in the USSR. The process of practical exchange of Soviet youth groups with foreign age mates was being initiated by the Bureau of International Youth Tourism «Sputnik».

In the context of socialism updating, the urgent need to use the tourism among youth people as an effective factor for communication outreach of advanced working methods

Write a letter to the Editorial board working people, employees and students on a wide scale basis of international tourism. The Central Council for Tourism and Excursions under the All-Union Central Trade Union Council took an active part in international tourist exchanges carrying out these exchanges in close contact with the Chief Department for Foreign Tourism. The All-Union Central Trade Union Council made the regional trade councils responsible for the organization of tourist trips abroad: in the People’s Democracies and in the market economy countries. Suffice it to say that about 90% of all tourist trips abroad among Soviet working people were carried out by the regional trade councils.

The forms of international tourist relations were varied: organization of events called «Trains of Friendship», two-way travels of tourist groups in the twin-cities, trips in the places with revolutionary, military and labor glory of the Soviet people.

The Central Council for Tourism and Excursions maintained active business relationships with many foreign tourist organizations and firms. These contacts were developed by exchanging of tourist groups on the basis of non-currency, as well as by exchanging of working people groups for vacation, organization of holidays for tourists from planned economy countries, market economy countries and developing countries for social tourism development.

Conclusion

Thereby, international cooperation in the analyzed period was being achieved in the regions of Western and Eastern Siberia in the following areas: exchange of international tourist groups; sightseeing; exchange of values in art and culture (exhibitions, presentations, performances); exchange of printed publications; exchange of delegations with the purpose of professional cooperation;

activity of mass media to popularize the development of friendly relations with partner countries.

Primarily, international youth tourist exchange along with the purpose of engaging in cultural and labor activity advanced the ideological education of young generation for building of communism under the auspices of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist Leagues. In its turn, the AULYCL activity under the conditions of the Cold War was based on the common ideological and foreign policy of the nation leadership.

International exchange in the planned economy countries was popular in a greater degree among young people. Especially significant tourist exchange was realized within the AULYCL activities during the 1960s and 1970s. In the late 1960s the Bureau of International Youth Tourism «Sputnik» was one of the leading youth tourism organizations in the world regarding the scope of activity and the amount of tourist services. It was possible thanks to the establishment of the Komsomol organization in the system.

The fact is that the amount of provided services for young people was increasing within international tourism from year to year, but still no more than 10% of Soviet young people used services of organizations. On the other hand, foreign citizens visiting our country for exchange were not always satisfied with the level of provided services. Young people from the market economy countries along with the low-level services considered the propaganda of Soviet way of life excessive. However, the increase in number of tourists from Western countries can be considered as an indicator of successfulness in realization of international exchange programs. Such tourists were striving to evaluate the Soviet realities objectively and they recognized success achieved by the Soviet Union during the years of its existence.