Guest tourism, or What is couchsurfing. Couchsurfing

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If you are tired of traveling through travel agencies, you are unable to book hotels via the Internet, or you simply want to save on housing, then you can become a couchsurfer, i.e. travel on exchange. Couchsurfing - exchange holiday. First of all, this will allow you to see the country through the eyes of its inhabitants and gain invaluable experience. independent travel, and most importantly, you can make new friends all over the world.

Couchsurfers are people who travel the world, staying not in hotels, but with friends whom they previously met via the Internet.
It is absolutely not necessary to spend money on a hotel; you can simply stay in an apartment with friends, who, in turn, will someday also come to you and be able to stay in your apartment. Couchsurfers have their own specialized websites where they meet, negotiate and discuss the conditions and places of their future overnight stays. At the same time, couchsurfers, as a rule, do not care in what conditions they have to spend the night. This may not be a sparsely furnished apartment, but it may also turn out to be an empty room with only a sofa and a refrigerator. Couchsurfing is so addictive that it has become a way of life. The location and living conditions in this case are not the main thing. The main thing in an exchange holiday is communication with like-minded people and travelers like yourself. Couchsurfing is tourism for the exchange of housing and vacation spots. Couchsurfing is an exchange holiday.

Of course, everyone decides for himself whether he can become a couchsurfer and host complete strangers in his apartment, sharing his bedroom (in the normal sense of the word) and kitchen with them, and accepting their habits and desires. Arranging exchange holidays , you first “write off” with your future guests and try to learn as much as possible about them during the correspondence. Some people simply love to receive guests, and receiving foreigners is doubly enjoyable for them.
On the other hand, you yourself can go to the country you like in the same way, without worrying about your place of residence or booking a hotel in advance. Moreover, it is possible that the receiving party (host) will help you (the coach) navigate an unfamiliar country and a specific city. If desired, the host will show you the main attractions and accompany you to night club or to the museum and explain where it is better and cheaper to buy food. In this case, you also save on guides. When receiving guests from another country, you can walk around your hometown with them and probably learn a lot of interesting things about it. Only a couchsurfer can really understand the life of a country, how ordinary people live in it, what they are passionate about and, as a result, gain a unique and invaluable traveler experience.
Once you become a couchsurfer and start traveling on exchange, you will, of course, have to communicate with your guests. The unspoken language of communication among couchsurfers is English. However, no one is stopping you from learning the language of the host country, for example, Albanian or Greek.

If you decide to become a couchsurfer and are ready to travel on exchange, learn a few simple truths. First of all, before agreeing to host strangers in your home for the night, try to find out in advance what they are like. Ask them, for example, to send you their photo and tell you more about themselves, ask what languages ​​they speak. Go to a specialized website, where perhaps someone has already communicated with these people and left reviews about them. Couchsurfing, an exchange holiday, is also practiced by people with a different orientation. Therefore, do not hesitate to clarify these points in advance. Otherwise, having received your consent to spend the night, your guests may be very upset when they do not receive from you what they expected. In short, you must have some intuition to correctly assess the capabilities and desires of your guest. Among the large army of couchsurfers, there are also those who can easily sit on your neck. The most harmless thing in this case may be dinner at a restaurant at your expense.
If you are not satisfied with a candidate for accommodation, do not hesitate to refuse him. After all, you don't owe anyone anything. You should do the same if you yourself are going to visit someone on an exchange holiday. Try to burden your homeowners as little as possible and people will be drawn to you, and rumors about your hospitality will spread throughout the world.
Couchsurfing does not necessarily require overnight accommodation. It is enough, having written or called in advance, to simply meet in some museum or just walk around the city, sit in a cafe and thereby strengthen your acquaintance. Remember that an exchange holiday is, first of all, about communicating with new people.
If you are interested in this type of tourism, you can leave your suggestions in the comments.

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Photo: Couchsurfing is a large Internet project founded in 2004. The word itself in English translates to “couch travel”

Planning long trips from Khabarovsk is not so easy. You often have to book rooms in hotels and resorts relying on your own intuition - there are not many of us who often travel to other countries and can give practical advice. And the cultural program is often limited to a guidebook.

Well, just a couple of mouse clicks on the Internet - and in an instant you turn from a timid tourist into a welcome guest who will be greeted, provided with free accommodation, and introduced a little to the culture of another country. Joke? No, couchsurfing, but simply guest tourism!

The idea of ​​couchsurfing is extremely simple: people are ready to host guests from other cities and countries at home completely free of charge. You just need to register on the site and fill out the form in detail. And then, when planning your trips, you send out requests to people you like.

As a rule, the duration of such an exchange is limited to several days - enough to chat, take a walk and not get bored of each other. However, no one forbids staying for a longer time if the owner himself agrees to it, or, conversely, staying literally for one night.

Worth a try

Why is couchsurfing so good, and why does it attract so many people? Because it's free. This system allows you to cross off the “accommodation” column from the list of travel expenses. And even if you are going not for two days, but for two weeks, just change your place of residence more often. By the way, you also save a lot on food by preparing all your food at home in the kitchen, rather than spending money on it in cafes and restaurants.

But the most important thing is, of course, cultural exchange. The Internet and tourist brochures will certainly tell you about the most famous places for visiting. But wait, how much can a person learn, for example, what life is like in Khabarovsk, just by visiting Glory Square and sitting on the embankment?

The owners will show you their hometown in a way you would never see yourself. You can find a person based on their hobbies, and if you are an amateur nightlife, then it is not necessary to come to visit an elderly history teacher - choose your own!

Safety regulations

Is couchsurfing dangerous? Of course, there is always a risk. And as a last resort, you should have money to stay at a hotel. The owner of the apartment may get lost or get sick and not meet you - anything can happen. Fortunately, the site's responsiveness is so high that a replacement can be found literally in one day.

By the way, the fact that you are going to someone now does not mean that later you will be obliged to host this person. Among the hosts there are those who do not travel anywhere themselves, but welcome guests quite actively.

Some of them even rebuild their own homes, set aside special rooms for travelers and almost devote their entire lives to communicating with foreigners, turning their home into a guest house.

And vice versa - there are tourists who only visit, but never host. And there are those who cannot provide housing, but will happily show you the city and treat you to a cup of tea.

Cities from the inside, alive and real, with their language, rhythm and mood - that’s what couchsurfing is. Tens and hundreds of people, stories, lives told by people of a completely different culture and mentality. This is new, full of bright impressions huge world. But be careful – this type of holiday is very addictive!

Stanislava Krapan


Couchsurfing in Khabarovsk

This trend is quite new for Khabarovsk. The official couchsurfing website has its own Khabarovsk community, where foreigners leave advertisements looking for a host, and our “activists” communicate with each other.

Elena Stelmakh
Experience in the project - 3 years

“Guest tourism is simply an unforgettable experience in life! I myself surfed first in Vladivostok, and then went to America. And all the people with whom I lived were kind and hospitable.

When I went to Vladivostok, I was very worried. I was sure that Russians can only behave well with foreigners. However, I was given a very warm welcome and had a great weekend.

Later she began to receive guests herself. I lived with a Spaniard, a Frenchman, a Japanese and a Greek. The guys traveled alone and stayed from two to four days. The Japanese was simply delighted with Khabarovsk. This was his first trip to Russia, and he photographed absolutely everything.

The Greek stayed in Khabarovsk for a very short time. Our city became the 11th Russian city on his list. Here the traveler got bored and went to Vladivostok to look at the sea. The Spaniard is a journalist. He filmed a film here about how the Spaniards live on Far East, and then did some story about Jews in Birobidzhan. Nevertheless, he liked it in Khabarovsk. The Frenchman was also pleased and said that we have beautiful city and magnificent cathedrals."

Hospitality network is a community of people who offer a stay at their home to other members of this community. As a rule, we are talking about stopping for several days. Arrangements for arrival are most often made through specialized websites. In addition to universal networks, there are networks aimed at specific groups of people: cyclists, Esperantists, etc.

How it works

To use the services of the network, you need to register (usually on the website) and, if possible, fill out a questionnaire as completely and interestingly as possible, which other participants can see. After this, it becomes possible to search for people with whom you can stay (a place where you can stay is called a “list”), a forum, etc.

To agree on “registration” you need to write a letter to the person with whom you can stay. The letter states the dates of arrival/departure, travel goals, plans, hobbies and everything else that may interest the interlocutor. Often, when searching for a “registration”, letters are sent to several participants at once, since the reply letter may contain a refusal (the owner may be busy these days, be in another city, he may have already agreed with other travelers that they will come to him on the indicated days, and you may simply want to relax without guests). They also exchange phone numbers through letters and/or arrange a meeting. It is better to agree on “inclusion” in advance, although some participants are ready to receive a guest literally a couple of hours after they agreed on the site.

As a rule, on such sites it is possible to write a review about another participant. The review briefly describes how and where you met the participant, what interested him, whether there were any negative aspects, and the general impression of the communication.

Members of such a community must treat each other with respect, take into account each other’s habits and traditions, because representatives of different cultures often meet in this way.

No money is taken for accommodation, but, by agreement with the owner, the guest may be required to buy food for themselves, wash dishes, etc.

Through such networks you can not only find where to stay, but also arrange a meeting with local residents. Thus, even those who cannot receive guests can also participate in the exchange of hospitality: they can meet travelers, tell them about the city, show them interesting places.

Many members of such networks hitchhike.

Story

The idea of ​​exchanging hospitality was first implemented in the international non-profit service Servas Open Doors, which opened in 1949, the mission of which was formulated as “world peace.” The very next year, the Intervac service appeared, the priority of which was cheap travel. With the spread of the Internet, the number and variety of such networks has increased dramatically.

Advantages

Compared to hotel accommodation, hospitality exchange has a number of advantages:
* Opportunity to meet interesting people, like-minded people.
* Opportunity to get acquainted with everyday life local residents"from within".
* Allows you to save on housing.
* Most of these networks are international; traveling through them provides good practice in learning foreign languages.
* Local members of such a network can help a visitor find his way around the city, meet/see him off, and help in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Safety

Since the use of such networks implies a very rapid transition from communication on the Internet to close communication in real life, much attention is paid to security. The main security tools are:

* Availability of reviews from other users. Before meeting an unfamiliar member, you can read what other community members think about him.
* Recording of negotiations through the site by the site administration.
* Indication by participants of their passport details.

Existing hospitality networks

There are many hospitality chains. Now most of them have their own websites on the Internet. Networks differ from each other in the number of members, focus, and site design. Many people are simultaneously members of several hospitality networks. Depending on the country, one or another network may be more popular.

CouchSurfing is the most developed service for finding kind people who are ready to let guests in absolutely disinterestedly and free of charge. The database contains more than 2,000,000 people from more than 240 countries. The project is proud of its base, which contains only the most cultured and respectable people. Free service.

HospitalityClub is exactly the same service as CouchSurfing, but has a smaller base of countries and users. The database contains more than 325,000 people from more than 205 countries. It is also possible to simply find people who will show you the city, recommend good cafes, clubs and, in fact, just communicate with the locals. The service is free.

WWOOF - connects travelers with farmers and peasants from different countries who need additional labor on the farm and who in return provide tourists with housing and food.

Caretaker - search for people who need house caretakers while the owners are away without pay rent, although, in fact, the service presents options for exchanging houses, and for work in exchange for housing and other options. Use of the service is paid - $30 per year.

Organicvolunteers are the same as WWOOF and Housecarers, but with much more wide choice type of housing: from simple houses and apartments to informal rooms in student dormitories and the homes of religious sects in exchange for "understanding" of their religion. Cost - $20 per year.

Globalfreeloaders is an ordinary house exchange service. The main condition: after registration, host guests at home for six months. Free use of the system.

Servas is the same home exchange service, but recognized by the UN as the most charitable. The reason for this, apparently, was the mandatory interview with the person providing his home to check his integrity.

Be Welcome is a cross-cultural exchange network that helps you share, meet and help others on the road.

flatjump.com is a free global travel community.

WarmShowers is a network aimed at cyclist travelers.

HelpX.net - hundreds and thousands of people around the world offer people food and shelter in exchange for help with their work. HelpX is an online directory of small private farms, ranches, hostels, restaurants, wineries and even yachts that invite volunteer helpers to visit for periods ranging from a few days to several months. The portal is focused on mutually beneficial cultural exchange combined with an active vacation. Work for every taste, but no more than 30 hours a week (4-6 hours a day), for this you get free food, free housing and often free wi-fi.

The aggressive environment of megacities is extremely tiring for people, so many city dwellers strive to acquire summer cottages and rural estates, where they go to relax at every opportunity. For those who, for various reasons, cannot afford to buy and maintain a country house, agritourism can be an excellent solution - a relatively new direction that involves living in rural areas away from big cities, with the opportunity to take part in various cultural and leisure events.

Considering rural tourism as a business, it should be noted that it is equally of interest to both vacationers and farmers who have at their disposal a sufficient amount of resources to comfortably accommodate several guests. Moreover, tourists perceive processes familiar to local residents as exotic, and therefore willingly take part in field work, care for animals, rent boats for fishing and pick mushrooms, thereby bringing the owner of a village hotel a good additional income.

Business Features

The main feature of rural tourism is the accommodation conditions: guests are accommodated in old log houses or in antique-style manors, located in areas with untouched nature, far from industrial enterprises and multi-story concrete buildings. With the exception of complexes with complete historical reconstruction, such village hotels provide visitors with amenities at the level of resort apartments: the rooms have bathrooms, air conditioning, televisions and refrigerators, and guests are provided with three meals a day in the dining room.

The main meaning of this type of vacation is to separate the residents of megacities from the usual bustle and immerse themselves in a leisurely and measured rural life. In addition, the tours are also educational: many townspeople have never seen an authentic folk costume, sat with a fishing rod at dawn or milked a cow.

In Russia, rural tourism attracts mainly women, whose share in the target audience reaches 70%. Living in a village may also be interesting for other residents of megacities - married couples with children and young people who give preference to a healthy lifestyle and a clean environment.

Another fairly broad category of tourists are foreign citizens who want to get acquainted with cultural traditions and folklore. For such guests, the natural environment, national flavor and authenticity of rural life are sometimes more important than the presence of a TV in the room. Considering that foreigners select vacation spots mainly via the Internet, it is necessary to develop your own multilingual website with colorful photographs, descriptions of services and price list, as well as regularly post advertisements on foreign travel forums and social networks.

Collective field trips are also common in the corporate environment: managers various companies they buy similar tours for their employees in order to conduct events aimed at strengthening team spirit and developing ways of interaction between employees. Such clients usually rent a hotel for a period from a few hours to two or three days and pay significantly more for this than ordinary private visitors.

Finally, the concept of rural tourism development implies close interaction with tour operators: companies interested in cooperation on favorable conditions, will not only post information about the services of a home hotel on their website and in advertising materials, but will also help in developing a high-quality tourism product, organizing transfers and an entertainment program.

Types of rural tourism

Clients of home hotels have different requirements for organizing their vacation: some simply want to spend time in nature, others are interested in hunting and fishing, others come to the village to get acquainted with folklore and folk crafts. In accordance with the list of cultural and leisure activities, several of the most popular rural tourism programs are distinguished:

  • Medical tourism. Its goal is to study the means and methods of traditional medicine, collect medicinal plants, as well as carry out health procedures that are in demand by people with various diseases;
  • Historical tourism. It represents a complete immersion in authentic ancient life, including accommodation in reconstructed huts with minimal amenities and meals with dishes of Old Russian cuisine;
  • Rural ecological tourism. It involves living in a remote village with the telephone turned off, without television or the Internet. Various cultural events contribute to complete immersion in rural life;
  • Sports tourism. In this case, the countryside is used as a platform for various sports competitions, hiking, orienteering, rock climbing, rafting, and horseback riding;
  • Educational tourism. This type of rural tourism involves the study of classical folk crafts - pottery, artistic painting, wood carving, weaving wicker products, embroidery;
  • Agricultural tourism. Includes active recreation with the opportunity to take part in basic agricultural processes, including grazing livestock, collecting firewood, field work, haymaking, hunting, fishing, picking mushrooms or berries;
  • Folklore tourism. Aims to study folk art, rituals, oral tales and songs, visit historical places and museums, as well as festivals and fairs held in rural areas;
  • International tourism. This type of tourism in rural areas may include one or more areas of interest to foreign guests - the study of folklore and folk crafts, history and medicine.
  • Advantages and disadvantages An entrepreneur considering how to open a rural tourism business should pay attention to the characteristic features of this activity and take into account their positive or negative impact on the operation of the enterprise as a whole. The advantages of agritourism include the following factors:
  • To open a home hotel on a farm, you do not need to obtain a hotel license - just register as a peasant farm or individual entrepreneur;
  • This direction is considered a priority, thanks to which the entrepreneur has the opportunity to participate in the rural tourism development program;
  • If you have a subsidiary farm, you can reduce the cost of food for guests by using environmentally friendly products of your own production;
  • The hotel owner does not have to pay rent;
  • Using the surrounding Natural resources and the potential of the region, you can create an exciting program of cultural and educational events;
  • At this stage, the industry is characterized by a low level of competition;
  • To organize rural tourism you do not need to have experience or special knowledge in this field.
  • At the same time, negative factors can significantly complicate the work of an entrepreneur and lead to additional expenditure of resources aimed at overcoming the consequences of their influence:

  • Rural areas often lack the infrastructure and resources necessary for tourists to live comfortably;
  • The activities of home hotels are not regulated by law;
  • Under the influence of urbanization, villagers quickly forget traditions and lose their identity;
  • The development of rural tourism in Russia is hampered by the rapid decrease in the number of able-bodied residents of villages and villages.
  • Required Resources

    Of course, not every village will be attractive to tourists: in some populated areas There are no sights or interesting natural resources at all. Therefore, it is advisable to open a home hotel in a region known for its cultural traditions, crafts, architectural monuments and beautiful landscape.

    A big advantage will be the presence of a nearby forest and any body of water - a lake, pond or river: visitors will definitely be interested in such active recreation, like fishing, swimming, going for mushrooms or berries. Accordingly, the entrepreneur will be able to make money by providing guests with various equipment - boats and catamarans, bicycles, fishing rods, mushroom picking kits.

    When choosing where to start rural tourism in such an area, it is necessary to pay attention to the availability of any such resources and evaluate the possibility of using them to develop a program of cultural and leisure activities. In addition, to serve and entertain tourists you can use:

    • The estate. Several rooms are allocated in the house for guests to stay, and the surrounding area is put in order, flower beds and lawns are laid out here, gazebos, barbecues and swings are installed, and parking spaces are arranged;
    • Pets. Maintenance, feeding and herding of chickens, sheep, pigs, cows and horses will be part of entertainment program, and the use of livestock products will provide visitors with fresh milk, meat, eggs;
    • Garden. For city dwellers active and educational holiday will become ordinary agricultural work - many of them have never seen potatoes, carrots or corn in the natural environment. In addition, dishes made from these vegetables can be served at the table in the evening;
    • Orchard. Gardening, harvesting and processing may also be of interest to tourists. Fresh apples, pears, plums, cherries are eaten or used to prepare various desserts - pies, jams, preserves;
    • Russian bathhouse. Bath procedures are used for health purposes, supplemented with homemade kvass or herbal tea. Lovers extreme recreation they will want to jump from the steam room into a snowdrift or into an ice hole with ice water;
    • Craft, hobby. Various master classes dedicated to wicker weaving, pottery, woodworking, soap making and other works typical of rural life will help attract and interest customers;
    • Special knowledge. The hotel owner needs to learn the art of receiving guests, get acquainted with local historical, architectural and landscape attractions for excursions, and master cooking national cuisine, as well as improve communication skills in foreign languages ​​to serve foreign guests.
    Arrangement of rooms and territory

    An estate that claims to be a home hotel is subject to fairly high requirements designed to ensure maximum comfort for guests. Therefore, when landscaping the local area, it is necessary:

  • Remove all debris from the site, repair paths, sow lawns with grass and flowers, if possible, find and install carts, their wheels, and antique agricultural machinery as decorative elements;
  • Provide parking space for visitors' cars;
  • Clean and put in order the paths to the well, spring and reservoir;
  • Avoid proximity to abandoned and dilapidated houses, garbage and manure heaps, livestock farms and other sources of unpleasant odor and noise;
  • Ensure the availability of telephone communication, satellite television and the Internet (many guests will want to immediately publish photos on social networks);
  • Install artificial lighting on the site;
  • Arrange rest areas, install gazebos and garden benches, hang hammocks.
  • Premises intended to accommodate guests must be equipped with ventilation, lighting and heating systems, bathrooms and showers. Of course, some tourists, in pursuit of historical authenticity, will want to live with stove heating, wash from a stream and sleep in beds, but the majority of visitors will prefer a minimal set of amenities:

    Living room equipment
    Name Qty Price Sum
    Bed 9 8 000 72000
    Wardrobe for outerwear 3 4500 13500
    Linen closet 3 6000 18000
    Chair or stool 9 1 000 9000
    Dining table 3 2500 7500
    Chandelier or wall lights 3 2000 6000
    TV 3 9 000 27000
    Air conditioner 3 18 000 54000
    Router 3 1500 4500
    Electric kettle 3 1000 3000
    Mini fridge 3 6500 19500
    Bedspreads 9 2 000 18000
    Pillows 9 500 4500
    Blankets 9 2 000 18000
    Bed sheets 18 500 9000
    Toilet with cistern 3 4 000 12000
    Shower cabin 3 12 000 36000
    Mirror 3 2 000 6000
    Washbasin 3 8 000 24000
    Mixer 3 1 000 3000
    Boiler 3 5500 16500
    Large towel 18 500 9000
    Small towel 18 300 5400
    Rug 3 500 1500
    Clothes dryer 3 1 500 4500
    Garden tent 3 3500 10500
    Garden furniture set 3 6 000 18000
    Brazier 3 700 2100
    Set of dishes 3 5 000 15000
    Hammock 3 1000 3000
    Total: 450000

    The area of ​​guest rooms is selected at the rate of at least 6–7 m² per person for double rooms, or 5–6 m² per person for triple rooms.

    Catering

    Three meals a day are included in the basic package of home hotel services. To organize it, it is necessary to equip a small dining room for 10–12 people, in which you can also install a samovar and place sweets on dishes to organize tea drinking at any time of the day. It is possible that this particular place will become a center for guests to communicate and exchange impressions after a busy day.

    The basis of the menu for tourists consists of simple and unpretentious village dishes prepared from farm products. This may include:

    • Vegetable salads, homemade pickles, fresh herbs;
    • Homemade milk, sour cream, cottage cheese and cheese;
    • Cutlets, meatballs, homemade sausage, dumplings, kebab;
    • Fish and fish dishes;
    • Various porridges, navy pasta;
    • Baked potatoes, boiled with herbs, stewed with mushrooms;
    • Fish soup, cabbage soup, pickles, vegetable and cold soups, borscht;
    • Homemade eggs, omelettes and scrambled eggs;
    • Pies, honey gingerbreads, pancakes, pancakes, homemade jam;
    • Compotes, herbal and fruit teas.

    You need to be prepared for the fact that some guests who adhere to a vegetarian or medicinal diet will find the village menu unacceptable and will want to prepare their own dishes from products they brought with them or bought from the farmer. For their convenience, you need to equip a separate kitchen, equipped with all the necessary utensils and household appliances:

    Guest kitchen equipment
    Name Qty Price Sum
    Set of pans 2 3500 7000
    Set of frying pans 2 3000 6000
    Knife set 2 500 1000
    Forks, spoons 2 2900 5800
    Gas stove 1 6000 6000
    Cutting boards 2 800 1600
    Kitchenware 3000 3000
    Food processor 1 3000 3000
    Fridge 1 15000 15000
    Washing 1 600 600
    Mixer 1 1000 1000
    Total: 50000
    Leisure organization

    Few guests will be satisfied with the opportunity to simply live away from the noise of the city, swim in a clean river, take a steam bath and look at live cows: usually people interested in agrotourism are attracted by slightly different goals - immersion in rural life, active recreation, participation in agricultural work. In addition, many people buy family tours and bring children to the village who grew up in the city and have never seen wildlife. Therefore, a set of various cultural and leisure activities is being developed for guests, including them in the basic package or offering them as additional services:

    Agricultural holidays:
    • Picking berries, vegetables and fruits, working in the fields and gardens;
    • Pumping out honey, excursion to the apiary;
    • Feeding and driving animals to pasture, working as a shepherd;
    • Baking homemade bread;
    • Setting up a smokehouse, smoking meat or fish;
    • Collecting sour cream and whipping butter;
    • Tree felling and firewood preparation.
    Leisure:
    • Hunting and fishing;
    • Horseback riding, sleigh rides, excursion to a horse farm;
    • Water procedures, swimming in a river or lake;
    • Hiking and cycling;
    • Bath health treatments;
    • Picnics;
    • Access to recreational equipment - balls, badminton;
    • Conducting photo sessions with pets.
    Educational rest:
    • Getting to know local customs, rituals and folklore;
    • Participation in celebrations, invitation of folklore groups;
    • Conducting master classes on folk arts and crafts;
    • Excursions to museums, inspection of architectural and natural monuments.
    Investments

    When developing a business plan for rural tourism, it is necessary to take into account that the work on arranging a home hotel is not limited to repairs in the rooms: to ensure an acceptable level of comfort and organization of leisure for guests, you will have to tidy up the local area, install air conditioners and satellite dishes, and purchase equipment. It is also advisable to have at your disposal a small minibus to transport tourists to their vacation spot and organize excursion trips.

    The list of costs associated with creating a hotel of three triple rooms will include the following items:

    Investments
    Name price, rub. Quantity, pcs. Amount, rub.
    SPD registration 2000
    Renovation of guest rooms 75000 3 225000
    Guest room equipment 150000 3 450000
    Kitchen equipment 50000 1 50000
    Yard landscaping 150000 1 150000
    Installation of a septic tank for 6 m³ 80000 1 80000
    Touring bikes 10000 4 40000
    Boats 40000 3 120000
    Sports equipment 20000
    Development of an information site 20000
    Transport, minibus 350000 1 350000
    Total: 1507000

    Unfortunately, farm owners engaged in providing rural tourism services do not physically have enough time to serve guests, care for animals and field work at the same time. Therefore, the company needs to hire several hired assistants:

    • Technical worker for laundry, cleaning rooms, washing dishes;
    • Animator-guide for excursions and master classes;
    • Cooks to work in the kitchen.
    Expenses for the year
    Name Amount, rub.
    Communal payments 36000
    Equipment repair 20000
    Marketing expenses 30000
    Property insurance 10000
    Fare 24000
    Chef salary 180000
    Salary for a tour guide-animator 180000
    Cleaning lady salary 180000
    Payroll tax 164700
    Administrative expenses 24000
    Food 369000
    Insurance premiums for individual entrepreneurs 27600
    Total: 1245300
    Revenue and profitability

    Agrotourism as a business involves the formation of a tourism product from a whole range of basic and additional services. By default, this includes accommodation in a separate room, three meals a day, the opportunity to contact animals, engage in outdoor activities and agricultural work. When developing a pricing policy, you should take into account the tariffs of similar rural hotels located in Perm region, in Karelia and Altai: here every day of stay costs a tourist 1200–1500 rubles.

    Green rural tourism: Where to start...

    To increase the competitiveness of an enterprise, it is recommended to reduce the cost of services during periods of falling tourist activity and thereby attract customers who want to save money on their vacation. Thus, taking into account seasonal fluctuations in attendance, a farmer renting out three triple rooms can receive an income of 1.74 million rubles during the year:

    Home hotel income
    Guests on average Person-days Tariff, rub./day Income, rub.
    Summer 80% 7,2 648 1300 842400
    Autumn 30% 2,7 243 1000 243000
    Winter 40% 3,6 342 1200 410400
    Spring 30% 2,7 243 1000 243000
    Total: 1738800

    Providing a set of paid services, the list of which is formed depending on the resources available in a given area: for example, if there is a horse farm, you can organize horseback riding, and if there is a reservoir, you can rent out boats and fishing rods. When drawing up a business plan for agritourism, it is necessary to analyze all available opportunities, and then develop a price list taking into account depreciation of equipment and the cost of cultural and leisure activities:

    Additional income

    Thus, the total annual turnover of the home hotel will exceed 2 million rubles. Taking into account current expenses, we can calculate the main economic indicators of the project and the expected payback period:

    Calculation of economic indicators Conclusion

    When developing rural tourism, one cannot stop there. In order for visitors to return to the hotel every year, the quality of service should be constantly improved, the surrounding area should be landscaped, and new excursions and entertainment events should be developed. However, the most important factor contributing to increasing guest loyalty is the special homely atmosphere that must be created on the farm through the constant display of hospitality, kindness and readiness to provide guests with the necessary assistance at any moment. At the same time, gratitude and enthusiastic reviews from clients will serve as a worthy reward for your efforts.

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