A strategic session “Cultural code, tourism and sustainable development” was held at KBSU

April 11, 2024 Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov became the regional platform of the VI Moscow Academic Economic Forum (MAEF-2024), within the framework of which a strategic session of interdepartmental interaction “Cultural Code, Tourism and Sustainable Development” was held.

Representatives of the scientific community and business were invited to discuss issues of family and traditional values, the influence of culture on the development of a harmonious society and citizen, issues of preservation and management of historical and cultural heritage sites of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, concepts of domestic tourism, competitiveness of the region in new conditions and the authorities of the CBD.

The discussion meeting was organized by the Institute of Law, Economics and Finance, the Institute of Management, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, and the Hermitage-Caucasus Cultural and Educational Center of KBSU.

Albert Saralp, vice-president of the Cultural Code Foundation, special representative for the preservation of cultural heritage, director of the cultural and educational center of the Hermitage-Caucasus KBSU, addressed the participants of the strategic session with a welcoming speech:

“The topic of preserving cultural heritage is very important today. I hope that our meeting will be interesting and bring fruitful results.”
The program of the strategic session was intense and included two panel discussions, as well as a lecture for a youth audience.

The first panel discussion was devoted to discussing current issues of managing cultural heritage sites and their integration into the development of tourism clusters in Russia.

Timur Khavzhokov, Deputy Head of the Office for State Protection of Cultural Heritage Objects of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, spoke about the current state of cultural heritage sites in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and measures taken to preserve them.

“The historical and cultural heritage of the Kabardino-Balkaria is unique and is an integral part of world Russian culture. As of December 2023, the Unified State Register of Objects of Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of the Russian Federation registered 436 objects located on the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, of which 116 are objects of federal significance and 320 are of regional significance. We have development prospects, and we will make every effort to realize them,”
– noted Timur Khavzhokov.

IPEiF Director Elena Mashukova asked what measures are being taken to prevent the destruction of historical and cultural monuments in the KBR. The official explained that the Department exercises state supervision and control over unscrupulous owners of cultural heritage sites, including judicial protection of monuments.

Albert Saralp expressed concern about the preservation of historical monuments; in his opinion, drastic measures are needed, including the involvement of law enforcement officers, specialists are needed, including restorers, and a well-thought-out long-term program for the preservation of cultural heritage sites is needed.

“If we treat this problem formally, in 15 years there will be nothing to protect,”
– stated Albert Saralp.

A question was asked about the prospects of the historical monument located on the territory of KBSU.

Timur Khavzhokov assured that taking into account the fact that the President of the Russian Federation has given instructions to bring 1,000 cultural heritage sites to a satisfactory condition by 2030 and about 51 billion rubles have been allocated from the federal budget for these purposes, there is hope to get into this program, and Dacha Stalin is a priority.

The director of IMTIG Ramazan Ligidov spoke about attracting tourist flow to the republic, noting that tourists really like to take pictures against the backdrop of monuments. But, unfortunately, there are not enough basic signs indicating the name of this object and its history.

Speeches of the second panel discussion “Contribution of Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after. HM. Berbekov in preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the region and supporting traditional family values” were aimed at discussing issues of integrating the potential of KBSU into the regional agenda and generating a request for relevant scientific research from regional authorities.

Leading experts and representatives of the academic community spoke for the youth audience.

As part of the strategic session, a cooperation agreement was concluded between the UNESCO Department of KBSU and the Kabardino-Balkarian regional public organization “Institute of Cultural Heritage and Development”, signed by Elena Mashukova and Madina Saralp.

The result of the strategic session will be the preparation of a resolution and a digest of best practices.