Natural and cultural heritage as a resource for the development of cross-border tourism in the adjacent territories of Russia, Estonia and Latvia

Research identifies cross-border tourist and recreational micro-regions in the adjacent territories of Russia, Estonia, and Latvia, leveraging natural and cultural heritage to foster regional tourism development. The study highlights three first-order micro-regions—'Ivangorod — Narva,' 'Pskov — Tartu,' and 'Pskov — Sigulda'—along with second- and third-order regions like 'Pytalovo — Rezekne' and 'Setomaa.' This framework, rooted in the theory of cross-border tourist region formation, underscores the potential for sustainable tourism growth by integrating cultural landmarks such as the UNESCO-listed Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture with natural attractions. The approach combines spatial analysis with heritage-based resource assessment to propose actionable strategies for transnational cooperation.

Oksana, C. (2020). Natural and cultural heritage as a resource for the development of cross-border tourism in the adjacent territories of Russia, Estonia and Latvia. Pskov Region Studies Journal, (43), 117. https://doi.org/10.37490/s221979310010375-5