Development of tourism in the USSR. Eremkin Roman - KuB Stages of development of youth tourism in the USSR

In Tsarist Russia, tourism as a social phenomenon did not receive proper development, although at that time there were already scientifically based recommendations from famous scientists and teachers E. A. Pokrovsky and P. F. Lesgaft on the use of hiking as an important means of educating people. On the eve of the October Revolution, there were only a few clubs and sections, united by the Russian Society of Tourists and cultivating mainly water, cycling and mountain tourism. Membership of the society was a privilege of the wealthy population. Through the society, guidebooks were published in small editions describing the most popular routes in the Crimea and the North Caucasus, along some rivers and lakes. The first professional tourism instructors appeared, as well as specially equipped bases to serve tourists.

The Great October Socialist Revolution marked the beginning of the development of a new type of tourism. It was during the Soviet period that tourism acquired the significance of a mass social phenomenon and began to successfully contribute to the solution of many educational, educational and health problems. The practice of using tourism increasingly met the urgent needs of the development of a socialist state - preparing young people for work and defending the Motherland.

Already in the first peaceful years of Soviet power, in addition to short-term mass recreational tourist trips, quite complex group multi-day hikes began to be practiced, instilling in the participants a sense of patriotism, a desire to learn the history and natural resources of their native land, communicate with the people who inhabit it, representatives of various nations and nationalities. During such campaigns, important state tasks for that time were solved: explaining the party's policies, promoting the Soviet way of life and the experience of building a socialist society. In conditions where workers' media were poorly developed and the level of literacy of the population was low, this was especially necessary. The living word, the clear example of the participants in the campaigns had an effective effect on the Soviet people. In 1923, the first propaganda ski trip of Komsomol members was made along the route Arkhangelsk - Moscow, and in 1924 12 similar trips were carried out.

In the 1920s, the search for more effective means, forms and methods of physical education for the broad masses of the population was accompanied by a struggle between the new and the old. Various interpretations of the role of physical culture have emerged. There was, for example, a so-called hygienic direction, which limited the choice of means of physical education. Its supporters unreasonably overestimated the role of simple tourist events organized in nature with minimal financial costs. The preference for simple tourist trips and excursions to the detriment of other means had a negative impact on the general process of educating the younger generation. There were, of course, other reasons for this approach to the development of mass physical culture: the weakness of the material base, the lack of instructors, financial resources, etc.

In subsequent years, tourism activities are streamlined in organizational and methodological terms. Agitation and propaganda work with rural workers, widely covered in periodicals, becomes dominant in their content. As a rule, these events are dedicated to significant events in the life of the Soviet state. Since the mid-20s, long runs, hikes, and star relay races have been cultivated throughout the country.

In the 1920s, mass tourism acquired important socio-political significance. And first of all, this is due to the well-known resolutions of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks “On the tasks of the party in the field of physical culture” (dated July 13, 1925) and “On the physical culture movement” (dated September 23, 1929). Physical education organizations are faced with the task of introducing into the practice of the physical education movement such forms and methods that would contribute to increasing the social activity of the working masses.

And already in a multi-day ski trip carried out in 1928 with elements of a relay race along the Tyumen-Moscow route with a length of 2250 km, about 300 of the best athletes of the Perm and Northern Railways participated. Of the many campaigns carried out in 1930, it is worth noting the campaign from Astrakhan to Moscow by 250 metal workers - advanced production workers who organized conversations, lectures, concerts, and film screenings in 89 settlements. The All-Union Star Trek Relay Race, held in 1933 and dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Komsomol, involved over 30 thousand athletes - representatives of all Union republics. The All-Union multi-day star water relay race of 1934, in which tens of thousands of people took part, was of similar importance. Mass tourist trips on a regional scale are also carried out, varying in the nature of the participants’ movements. For example, in the winter of 1934/35, massive star treks were held in all the Union republics, dedicated to the VII Congress of Soviets, in which over 11.5 thousand people took part. The total length of the trek routes was 51,000 km.

In the 1930s, many tourist groups were successfully involved in survey work in hard-to-reach areas of the country. For this purpose, special training was even organized, the program of which included studying the basics of geology, mineralogy, and methods of searching for minerals. Tourists also take part in the creation of the country's first nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

Along with mass propaganda, propaganda and national economic campaigns, complex hikes of a sporting nature are also organized, for example, a bicycle ride along the route Khabarovsk - Moscow (1934) or a high-speed transition from Ashgabat to Moscow by a group of Turkmen horsemen (1935) And from 1935 to 1939. Soviet athletes made 10 long-distance hikes over a distance of up to 9,000 km.

New forms and methods of increasing the activity of the working masses through tourism have played a positive role. Previously unknown traditions in the development of tourism are gradually being established. Tourists not only act as propagandists of the Soviet way of life, as educators of sorts. Mass enthusiasm and the heroism of building a socialist society, which found expression in the hard work and successes of the Soviet people in all areas of peaceful creation during the first five-year plans, in turn, have a mobilizing effect on tourists. Tourism also makes a certain contribution to the development of the Soviet physical education movement: the path to physical education and sports in most cases begins with participation in mass tourist events.

In 1929, on the basis of the Russian Society of Tourists, a mass voluntary society of proletarian tourism of the RSFSR was created. The new society was headed by V.I. Lenin’s ally N.V. Krylenko, who in this post made a significant contribution to the development of tourism. Since 1930, the society has become all-Union. A scientific and methodological council was formed under the Central Council of the Society of Proletarian Tourism and Excursions (CS OPTE).

With the establishment of OPTE, a new stage in the development of tourism begins. Scientifically based organizational, managerial and methodological foundations are laid for improving mass tourism work in the country. In 1930, the publishing house "Physical Culture and Tourism" began publishing the mass series "Library of Proletarian Tourism". Among the first books in the series, published in 1931: “Field trips and excursions as a method of socio-political education”, “On the participation of tourists in the preparation and conduct of the harvesting campaign.” In 1931-1933 The collection “Tourism and Defense of the USSR”, the books “Tourist - Military Intelligence Officer”, “Tourist - Military Topographer”, “Tourist-Sniper”, etc. are also being published. As we see, tourism is inextricably linked with socially useful work, important socio-political events, military-applied physical training of the population.

The methodological support of tourism is gradually improving. A special role in this was played by the book “Travel to the Mountains”, which emphasized the sporting importance of tourism, gave a detailed description of the methodology for choosing a route and preparing a hike, the mode of travel, adjusting equipment, explained methods of orienteering in the mountains, as well as the basics of high-mountain tourism techniques. The magazines “Tourist-Activist” and “On Land and Sea” played a significant role in the development of tourism at that time.

Since 1931, regional branches of OPTE have been created locally, as well as primary cells of OPTE at physical education groups. Thus, a unified organizational foundation for the development of tourism is laid across the country. In their work, the CS OPTE and its divisions closely interact with trade union, Komsomol and physical education organizations. All this contributed to an increase in the number of people involved in tourism. The network of tourist routes has expanded significantly, covering vast areas of the country.

At the same time, the problem of involving the broad masses of the population in tourism remained far from resolved. Measures were required to reorganize tourism. Since by the mid-30s two relatively independent directions had emerged in its development (tourist and excursion work and amateur tourism), they were subordinated in 1936 to two different bodies. The first direction came under the jurisdiction of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, where the Central Tourist and Excursion Directorate was created, and the second direction came under the jurisdiction of the All-Union Committee for Physical Culture and Sports.

Thus, in the 30s there were significant changes in the organizational structure of the development of Tourism, which contributed to an increase in its mass character.

Taking into account the above, we can conclude that by the beginning of the 40s, the final formation and approval of tourism as a mass, accessible means of physical education of people took place in the Soviet physical education movement. Its development fully corresponded to the state requirements of that time.

The Great Patriotic War was a severe test of the spiritual, moral, volitional and physical qualities of the Soviet people. Tourism contributed greatly to the development of these qualities in the pre-war years. General military training (Vsevobuch), introduced during the war, used tourist exercises as an important means of military-applied physical training.

In the first post-war years, when the task arose of restoring the health of the people undermined by the war, tourism activities were carried out largely for health purposes. The role of tourism in conducting socio-political events increased. Mass star treks were organized dedicated to the elections to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Participants in the campaigns provided assistance to local party and Soviet bodies in conducting government loan campaigns. The fascination of tourists, united in tourist sections and clubs, with complex hikes organized in extreme conditions, required streamlining the system of preparation for them on the basis of uniform program and regulatory requirements. For this purpose, in 1949, tourism was first introduced into the Unified All-Union Sports Classification (on a modern classification basis, as already mentioned, it was again included in it in 1965).

In the early 60s, in order to strengthen the role of tourism in educating people and strengthening their health, measures were taken to improve mass tourism work. There is a reorganization of management of tourism development in the country. The Central Tourism and Excursion Administration, under the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions, is being transformed into the Central Council for Tourism with a significant expansion of its powers (since 1969, this body has been called the Central Council for Tourism and Excursions). The Central Tourism Council is becoming a relatively independent body with a more specific range of functional responsibilities, which allows for more targeted and timely resolution of many complex issues of tourism development.

Particularly significant events in the development of tourism as a mass phenomenon in the 60s should be called the organization, on the initiative of the Komsomol Central Committee, of the All-Union campaign of Komsomol members and youth to the places of revolutionary, military and labor glory of the Communist Party and the Soviet people, the holding of the first all-Union gatherings of the winners of the campaign to the places of revolutionary, military and labor glory of the Soviet people (since 1965), as well as the organization of the first all-Union competitions for the best tourist travel (since 1967). Subsequently, all of them established themselves as traditional forms of mass tourism work.

During these years, children's tourism significantly intensified. All-Union expeditions of pioneers and schoolchildren, which have important educational significance, are becoming regular. Since 1972, all-Union tourist and local history expeditions of pioneers and schoolchildren have been organized under the motto “My Motherland is the USSR.” In addition to studying the sights of their native land, their task includes targeted search and research work, which largely contributes to strengthening the patriotic education of the country’s younger generation.

In 1972, tourism was included in the All-Union Physical Culture Complex “Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR.”

The beginning of the 1980s was significant for tourism organizations in implementing the resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions “On the further development and improvement of the tourist and excursion business in the country.” The resolution sets the task of improving mass tourism work in such a way as to make fuller use of the opportunity of tourism in order to improve the ideological, political, labor and moral education of workers and students, strengthen the health and rational use of free time of the population of our country.

As a result of the measures taken to implement the resolution, mass tourism work is being strengthened in all work collectives and educational institutions, new tourist clubs and sections are being created, groups are being deployed at the place of residence of the population and in places of mass recreation. In a short time, the production of higher-quality tourist equipment and equipment was established, the network of tourist bases expanded, their economic efficiency increased, and the quality of training of tourist personnel improved. The country has significantly increased the number of routes for weekend hikes and multi-day hikes within the requirements of the USSR Tourist badge.

All this made it possible to attract new hikers and travel enthusiasts to organized tourism activities. By the mid-80s, more than 8 million people were engaged in amateur tourism and over 20 million annually participated in weekend hikes and multi-day category hikes. Tourism has become truly massive. In recent years, it has begun to play a special role in introducing the broad masses of the population to a healthy lifestyle. In the field of view of tourism at the present stage of its development is the further solution of the problems of military-patriotic, moral and environmental education of youth.

So, the development of tourism in the USSR as a social phenomenon was constantly subordinated to the interests of the country. Tourism contributed to the fulfillment of important socio-political functions at all stages of the development of the Soviet state. Improving the forms and methods of tourist work was closely related to the development of the physical culture movement. In addition to the formation of vital skills and abilities for a person, increasing his motor activity, tourist events contributed to increasing the social activity of people, educating them in the spirit of Soviet patriotism and socialist internationalism.

The First World War and the October Revolution destroyed the system of pre-revolutionary tourism.

The Soviet government is re-creating domestic tourism, turning it into a mass form of leisure for working people. Tourism is considered as part of the state business. Control by the state and party.

Tourism and excursion business began to be considered as an important means of ideological and political education and physical development of the broad masses of workers, as an active form of organizing leisure time. The tourist movement is handled by the People's Commissar of Education (Narkompros).

1923 Resumption of ROT work. Focus on the proletarian Soviet approach.

In 1923-1925. The tourism and excursion work of trade unions is intensifying. Tourism is considered as a progressive form of recreation and an additional opportunity for educational work among the population. All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions.

A “Bureau of Working Excursions” is being created in Crimea (Simferopol).

1928 The need to reorganize tourism. Previously, teachers and students showed interest in travel, now workers are showing great interest. JSC "Soviet Tourist" (Sovtour) is being created: creation of planned routes, tourist services, distribution of paid vouchers. Hiking in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Altai. Production of tourist equipment, publication of literature.

On the picture G. L. Travin in 1929. From the archives of the Pskov State Association of Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve

1929, on the basis of ROT, the Society of Proletarian Tourism of the RSFSR (OPT) was created, chairman - N. Krylenko.

Organization of amateur tourism, study of tourism technology, militarization of tourism. Mass character.

Competition between Sovtur and OPT leads to the need to differentiate their functions. The People's Commissariat for Education divides their functions as follows: Sovtur - planned routes, commerce; OPT - amateur hikes and expeditions, ideological approach.

In 1930, OPT and Sovtur merged into OPTE (Society of Proletarian Tourism and Excursions). Tourism is becoming a social mass movement.

1931 A classification of categorical routes was introduced: three categories of difficulty were defined. Route commissions are being created. During the hikes, mineral deposits are searched and maps are updated.

Development of mountaineering in the OPTE as a direction of mountain tourism. In the 1920-1930s. In the USSR, mountaineering and mountain tourism were considered a single type of tourism. V. Abalakov. Climbers were not numerous at that time, the word “mountaineering” did not officially exist (why did a Soviet man need the Alps?), there was “mountain climbing”, mountain hikes, knowledge of one’s country or mass ascents, military campaigns or solving geographical and geological problems were encouraged, “simply climbing” was given a touch of bourgeois entertainment.

A coherent system for training climbers and training alpine camps in the Caucasus are being created.

1933 Alpiniada, mass ascent of Elbrus, hundreds and thousands of people.

The activities of OPTE were discontinued in 1936 due to political reasons. The country's leadership was afraid of mass amateur associations. The authoritarian-bureaucratic system that had emerged by this time did not need amateur public organizations that united thousands of people. Subsequently, many members of the OPTE leadership fell under the tide of repression. (I’ll add on my own: “repression”, however, as a rule, completely justified. In 1937-38, a spy network was discovered and destroyed among the USSR climbers who collaborated with German intelligence and supplied the Nazis with information that constituted a state secret. The traitors were destroyed, but not before cause serious damage to the country's defense capability)

1936 Liquidation of OPTE. Transfer of tourism and excursion business to the jurisdiction of Soviet trade unions (All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions). A new stage of domestic tourism began (1936 - 1945). Increased monopolization and centralization of tourism, strict government planning. Tourist and excursion departments (TEU) are being created under the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions in different cities of the USSR. Development of the material and technical base of tourism, increasing the number of planned routes. TEU All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions were largely engaged in planned tourism, amateur tourism was on the sidelines. Thousands of travel lovers could not come to terms with this.

1937 The first "Tourist Club" in the USSR was opened in Rostov-on-Don. The amateur tourism club has become a solution to the organizational problem in terms of amateur tourism. Before the Great Patriotic War, this club remained the only one in the country.

1938 The charter of the TEU of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions was changed. Amateur tourism is being strengthened and tourism sections are being created under voluntary sports societies (VSOs), trade union committees of enterprises and institutions. Tourist cells are beginning to be created as part of physical culture groups of enterprises, their work is financed by funds from factory and local committees (FZMK). Hiking began to be considered as an effective means of physical training for young people.

In 1937, the All-Union Mountaineering Section (one of the areas of sports tourism) was created - later the USSR Mountaineering Federation.

1941-1945 The Great Patriotic War, the participation of climbers as part of mountain rifle detachments in the battles for the Caucasus.

1.3.2 Development of tourism in the post-war period (1945 - 1961)

The war caused enormous damage to the tourism industry; the material and technical base and infrastructure were significantly undermined.

In the first post-war decade, tourism was not typical, although the population showed interest in hiking and traveling. The efforts of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions in the field of tourism were primarily aimed at the restoration and development of the material and technical base and human resources potential of tourism.

TEUs used a number of organizational innovations to enhance the attractiveness of tourism. Much attention began to be paid to the development of family tourism, free and discounted tours (at the expense of state social insurance), and the provision of tourist equipment.

1949 To stimulate amateur tourism, three levels of tourism skills and the title “Master of Tourism” were approved (later - sports categories and the title “Master of Sports of the USSR”). This was of great importance for the development of mass tourism, but at the same time the pursuit of discharges increased, which led to accidents.

In the 1950s In a number of cities of the USSR, tourist clubs began to operate: Sverdlovsk (1950), Moscow (1950), Leningrad (1957). In total, by the end of 1958, there were 42 tourist clubs operating in the USSR.

1.3.3 Tourism 1962-1968

Since 1962, domestic tourism has entered a new stage of its development, characterized, on the one hand, by an increase in its mass character, scale, expansion of its geographical base, social character and species diversity of domestic tourism, and on the other, by an increase in administrative and regulatory trends in its development.

TEUs were reorganized into tourism councils, working on the principles of collegiality and broad involvement of public activists. City (district) clubs operate under the guidance of tourism councils.

In the early 1960s. Terrain orienteering emerged from tourism and became an independent sport. In 1964, orienteering was included in the Unified All-Union Sports Qualification.

Work on creating clubs has intensified. In the 1960s the number of clubs increased to 2 thousand.

1.3.4 Tourism 1969-1991

The concentration of tourist and excursion areas in one hand - 1969, the creation of the Central Council for Tourism and Excursions (CSTE), work is carried out under the auspices of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions.

Tourism not only contributes to the development of its own base, but also stimulates the development of many industries: transport, trade, etc. Tourism is being widely developed and funding is increasing.

For the first time, the GTO standards included a tourist trip and a test in orienteering and tourist skills.

In 1981, the CSTE established the annual USSR Tourism Championships - competitions for the best tourist travel (among 4th, 5th, 6th grades).

During these years, tourism has become the most popular form of recreation. Available to everyone.

The development of tourism was stopped due to the economic and political crisis in the country. Second half of the 1980s - the beginning of Perestroika, then the collapse of the USSR. The collapse of the tourism management system. Reduction in domestic tourism with falling incomes of the population.

What could be more romantic than traveling? Probably nothing compares to the pleasant crackling of a fire on the shore of a lake, your favorite songs with a guitar and delicious, smoky food from a pot. How the Soviet people loved to travel! Soviet travelers had practically no opportunity to go abroad, so everyone traveled around their native USSR. Let's plunge into that unforgettable atmosphere and remember what Soviet tourists could not do without.

Durable travel backpack

This is perhaps the most important attribute of any traveler. But not every Soviet tourist could afford to purchase the then “Ermak” - a real, “branded” backpack on a frame made of thick canvas with many straps, pockets and convenient devices. Therefore, craftsmen often sewed backpacks for themselves.

Waterproof tent

Sometimes youth trips turned into multi-day “expeditions”, so it was impossible to do without tents. True, they were not in short supply, so you could easily buy the simplest two-, four-, or eight-person canvas tent. And those who wanted more comfort sewed tents themselves. From decommissioned parachutes, Soviet travelers managed to create entire “portable houses”, light and quite comfortable, which could accommodate up to 5 people.

Although the “parachute” tents were quite warm, tourists knew that they could not sleep on the ground: even in the height of summer, spending the night on bare ground is fraught with colds. That is why a warm sleeping bag with a zipper was an integral attribute of the Soviet traveler. You can imagine what these “cocoons” looked like by remembering Gaidai’s famous comedy “Prisoner of the Caucasus.”

First of all, on the hike they took what did not spoil: stewed meat, condensed milk, canned fish, various cereals, tea and pasta. In addition, an indispensable dish at the evening fire was potatoes baked in ash. Carrying it in a backpack, of course, was a bit heavy, but they took it with them without fail: the ritual of eating baked potatoes by the fire was strictly observed. Well, and of course, along the way the tourists encountered mushrooms, nuts and berries - this delicacy was also placed on their shoulders.

Tourist ax

The compact camping ax of the Soviet tourist was one of the most indispensable tools on a country hike. If you have the dexterity and skill, you can use it not only to chop firewood and dig a small hole, even to cut bread or open a tin can.

Camping pot

Lightweight aluminum camping pots for cooking were most often military-style - that is, also universal, so Soviet travelers easily adapted them as a flask, frying pan or small handbag. Such cauldrons were called “magic”: any, even the simplest food, was cooked in them so tasty that you couldn’t pull your ears off.

Utility knife

Multifunctional knives immediately replaced a fork and spoon, a can opener with a bottle opener, and even a corkscrew. These knives were very convenient for traveling: you didn’t need to take a lot of cutlery with you. Actually, over a quarter of a century, tourist knives have not undergone any visible changes - except that they have become a little lighter and more compact. And not only at an impromptu table could a Soviet tourist find this universal device useful: cutting pegs for a tent, cleaning and skinning caught fish, cutting spruce branches for bedding under the bottom of a tent - a knife was always needed on a country trip.

Acoustic guitar

The Soviet traveler could not live without music. That is why not a single trip was complete without a guitar. To brighten up the evenings around the fire, tourists sang songs and had fun. This is how the genre of “bard” song was born; its main themes in Soviet times were love, patriotism and the romance of travel.

Even if “the life of a Soviet tourist is hard and unsightly,” everyone traveled despite the difficulties. It is wonderful that such a good tradition arose in the USSR. Maybe we shouldn't forget it?

Development of tourism in the USSR

The Soviet tourist movement began to take shape in the early 20s. The organization of trips for workers was carried out by trade unions, and for students and soldiers - by the bodies of the People's Commissariat for Education. However, tourist travel was not systematic. In the mid-20s. ROT activities resumed. At the end of the 20s. The joint-stock company “Soviet Tourist”, “Intourist”, the Society of Proletarian Tourism (OPT RSFSR, which replaced the RSFSR) and the Central Children's Excursion and Tourist Station of the People's Commissariat of Education of the RSFSR were created. In 1930, by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, on the basis of the "Soviet Tourist" and the Society of Proletarian Tourism, the All-Union Voluntary Society of Proletarian Tourism and Excursions was created (in 1932 - 936.7 thousand members, 92 bases of all-Union significance, 6.6 million participated in travel and excursions. people). In 1936, by decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, management of work in the field of travel and excursions was entrusted to the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions and its organizations. By 1940, trade unions had created several thousand tourist cells at enterprises and educational institutions, and organized tourist excursion routes (165 tourist bases and camps) in many areas. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, many bases were destroyed. In 1945, the activities of the tourist and excursion management of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions were resumed. Tourist and excursion management (TEU) were first created in Moscow, Leningrad, Crimea, the North Caucasus, Krasnodar Territory and the Georgian SSR, by 1960 - in all union republics, in 33 territories and regions of the RSFSR; Tourist clubs have been opened in 144 cities. In 1962, TEU trade unions were reorganized into tourism councils, and the Central Council for Tourism (CTC) was created in Moscow, which included representatives of central state and public organizations and institutions involved in serving tourists. By 1965, tourism councils operated in all republics, territories and regions, and tourist clubs were formed in 1,510 cities and regional centers. During these same years, excursion bureaus were created in large cities. In 1969, the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions adopted a resolution “On measures for the further development of tourism and excursions in the country,” which set the task of turning the tourist and excursion business into a large industry serving the population; The CST was transformed into the Central Council for Tourism and Excursions (CTTE), which became one of the largest tourism organizations in the world.

Photo tourism in the USSR

In 1971-75, trade unions allocated 500 million rubles for the development of the material base of tourism. The volume of tourist and excursion services increased from 260 million rubles. in 1970 up to 1 billion rubles. in 1975; the number of tourist centers, hotels, and campsites increased to almost 1 thousand, the number of places - from 157 thousand to 300 thousand. In 1975, 26 million tourists and 131 million excursionists were served (in 1965 - about 2 million tourists and over 8 million tourists). There are over 350 all-Union routes and more than 6 thousand local routes. About 6 thousand sea and river cruises (serving about 2 million people), over 7 thousand railway cruises (about 3.5 million), about 25 thousand air cruises (about 1 million people) and over 200 thousand bus (over 6 million people) tourist flights. Travel and excursion agencies are open in almost 600 cities and towns. There are over 3 thousand clubs and over 14 thousand rental and distribution points for tourist equipment. Over 60 thousand tourist sections have been created at enterprises, collective farms, educational institutions, construction sites, etc., uniting tourist-athletes involved in hiking, skiing, water, cycling and other types of sports tourism, included (since 1949) in the Unified All-Union Sports classification. Competitions (including all-Union ones) in various types of tourism are regularly held. Route qualification commissions and a control and rescue service have been created under the tourism councils. Over 100 thousand people. (1975) have sports categories and over 600 people. title of Master of Sports of the USSR in Tourism. The standards for sports tourism are included in the All-Union Physical Culture Complex “Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR.”

Photos of routes in Crimea and the Caucasus 1982 - 1989

The tourist movement in the USSR is developing in accordance with state policy in the field of protecting public health. About 1.0 billion rubles are allocated annually from state social insurance funds alone. for the purchase of preferential vouchers and subsidies to recreation, tourism, and sanatorium treatment institutions. In addition, significant sums are allocated for the same purposes from public funds of enterprises and state farms. For travel on tours of trade union, youth and children's tourism organizations, there are preferential transport rates. Tourist organizations are exempt from taxes. Social structure of the tourist flow: industrial workers and office workers - 33%, engineering and technical workers and creative intelligentsia - 28%, students and schoolchildren - 18%, state farm workers, collective farmers - 9%, pensioners - 4%, others -- 8%. In addition to tourists served by various tourism organizations, about 75-80 million people. (1974, assessment) participated in amateur travel, hikes, etc.

In terms of the scope of the tourist movement, the USSR occupies one of the first places in the world.

Photos of routes in Crimea 1979 - 1984
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The main areas of mass tourism: the largest cultural and industrial centers - Moscow, Leningrad, Kyiv, Minsk, etc.; in the south - the coast of the Black and Azov, partly the Caspian seas; in the southwest and west: Moldova, Transcarpathia, southern regions of Ukraine, Baltic republics, western regions of Belarus. Since the 60s the so-called the central tourist area, including Novgorod, Rostov, Vladimir, Suzdal, Uglich, Yaroslavl and other ancient Russian cities. In the 70s a unique route has developed through the ancient cities of Central Russia, the so-called. Golden Ring (Moscow - Vladimir - Ivanovo - Plyos - Kostroma - Yaroslavl - Pereslavl-Zalessky - Moscow). Tourist flows to the north and east of the country are increasing - to Karelia, the Kola Peninsula, the Urals, Siberia, Baikal, and the capitals of the Central Asian republics. A special place is occupied by travel to places of revolutionary, military and labor glory of the Soviet people, to places associated with the name of V.I. Lenin. All planned all-Union and local tourist routes contain a rich program of excursions (bus, walking, etc.), built taking into account seasonal characteristics.

Through the mountains to the sea with a light backpack. Route 30 passes through the famous Fisht - this is one of the most grandiose and significant natural monuments of Russia, the highest mountains closest to Moscow. Tourists travel lightly through all the landscape and climatic zones of the country from the foothills to the subtropics, spending the night in shelters.

In the Soviet Union, health and recreation were dealt with quite thoroughly. Thanks to the trade union committee, parents received vouchers to various sanatoriums and rest homes, and children vacationed in pioneer camps. And the cost of the holiday was low. From an early age, children were taught an active lifestyle. They participated in sports clubs, hobby groups, and participated in all kinds of competitions. In the summer, many people took backpacks and went on long hikes. In tourism, sports were combined with recreation. They were also taught to it from a young age.

Younger schoolchildren went on hiking trips on weekends. They were timed to coincide with a significant day, and they took place in the form of an excursion. The pioneers carefully prepared for this event. They stocked up on the indispensable attributes: a red tie, a cap and sandwiches, which their caring mother had prepared in advance. During the rest, the guys shared their emotions and treated each other with supplies. The senior counselor accompanied a large line of children.

The younger kids were jealous of the older kids. Their trips were very real. The guys took backpacks, tents and a bowler hat with them. The hike lasted about three days, but a lot of time was spent on preparation. They needed to find an adult who would agree to accompany them on the hike. A specific route was previously developed. Due to the small age difference, the high school students behaved freely and relaxed.

Responsibilities were distributed among the participants in the campaign. Someone had to get equipment, and someone had to deal with food supplies. Every Soviet family had bowls and cups made of aluminum, and even a strong tent. If one was not available, you could take it at the rental office. Some even took sleeping bags with them. Provisions were prepared in advance. During the hike we ate stewed meat, canned food, cereals, condensed milk and tea.

Young tourists walked about 15 kilometers along the bank of a river or other area. There was a halt several times. At the final destination, tents were pitched, boys got firewood, girls cooked food. The boys felt more mature and responsible. Having chosen a place in the tent, we occupied it with the help of a backpack.

The hike was truly a vacation in nature. It was accompanied by clean air, swimming, volleyball, fishing, berry picking and a radio tuned to a wave with music. And if there was a portable cassette player “Vesna”, then the guys could listen to rare recordings or have a disco.

In nature, there are no thoughts about food at all, but with the inviting sound of spoons, you approach the fire with pleasure. They ate simply - soups made from briquettes, porridge or noodles with stewed meat, canned fish, lard, and sausage. A special art was the preparation of rich millet kulesh. And the fishermen treated their comrades to delicious fish soup with smoke. The dishes were washed in the river, and the cauldrons were scrubbed with sand.

In the evening, the company gathered near the cooling fire, in which potatoes were baked. The guys had fun with guitar songs and funny stories. Some fell in love, some quarreled, and some even smoked on the sidelines. The boys secretly stocked up on port wine and drank it so that the elders would not notice.

There were two drawbacks to the hike - bad weather and mosquito bites. Tents protected us from the rain, and smoke from mosquitoes.

Growing up, time begins to pass faster, but albums store black and white photographs with pleasant memories. The quiet children of today who sit at their computers make us think about past times with exciting hiking trips.