New Apology of the “Other”: how the premium ethnotourism provokes unstaged authenticity and new dimensions of the human capital

Abstract (English)

On the example of relevant field practices - ethnographic research of the Russian Geographical Society (RGO) 2023/25. - reveals the current specificity of ethnographic tourism (upper segment). The accession of tourists as volunteers of civil science to the ethnographic expeditions of the RGO in the Arctic zone of Russia (on Taimyr to the Dolgans and on Yamal to the Nenets), as well as the RGO of their own popular science tours (to Chukotka to the Inuins and Chukchu); In Papua, New Guinea to the cows) demonstrates the functionality of ethnographic tourism as one of the drivers of preserving the authentic heritage and traditional management. A separate track of research represents human capital in ethnographic tourism, which is understood to be teaching relevant practices of the hospitality of the receiving side (indigenous ethnic groups); Training of travelluders practices of facilitations "Ethnos - Tourist"; Preliminary informing tourists about guest and appropriate behavior practices.
Ethnography has long been exploring the influence of tourism on indigenous peoples, focusing on the dual nature of this impact. On the one hand, ethnographic and ethno -turisms are considered as instruments of preserving cultural heritage, economic development and improving the quality of life of indigenous communities, involving them in tourist activities and contributing to the transfer of traditions to new generations [1, 2]. On the other hand, in historiography the risks of aculture, destruction of social tissue and the exploitation of the indigenous population are noted, which causes an ambiguous assessment among researchers and practitioners [3, 4]. The role of human capital in ethno -turisms needs to be understood: the fundamental specificity is that all aspects of the ethnographic trip (tourists, tourist, accompanying scientists who accept the indigenous ethnic groups) must be trained and prepared for new experience [5].
On the basis of many years of field observations made on expeditions and popular science tours of the Russian Geographical Society [6], the role of ethnographic tourism of the upper segment in preservation of authenticity is revealed. In the world of postmodern, digital travel and augmented reality, not digital, “analog” trips to remote destinations to the indigenous peoples gain the character of a premium vacation. The price cuts off a “mass” tourist, forming a circle of authentic connoisseurs. The key request of such an audience based on the experience of RGS is the lack of production and access to authentic practices.In the postmodern era, this request is formulated as a separate fundamental question; the key point in making a purchase decision is communication, a “guarantee” that what he saw will not be a tourist production.
Initially, ethnographic tourism began to develop as an alternative to mass tourism, with an emphasis on stability, environmental friendliness and respect for the originality of peoples. Since the 2000s, Russian state policy has supported the development of ethno-turism, especially among the small peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, which is reflected in a number of programs and projects aimed at modernizing the traditional economy and preserving ethnocultural practices. Ethnographic routes are often created with the active participation of the indigenous peoples themselves, which allows them not only to demonstrate their culture, but also to receive economic benefits, while maintaining a traditional way of life. Successful projects are built on the principles of partnership and independent management from indigenous communities.
Ethnographic tours allow travelers not only to observe, but also to participate in rituals, holidays, craftsmanships, which contributes to the transfer of knowledge and skills to new generations and maintaining interest in traditional culture both among local residents and guests of the region. The line between the “demonstration for tourists” and the real commitment to traditional classes is so conditional that it is far from always possible to divide “inetourist” with a minus sign and “motivation” with a sign plus.For example, on the expeditionary journey of Yamal-Papua (a joint product of popular science tourism from RGS, tour operator Mzungu Expections, with the participation of a science ethnographic unit (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Center for Northern Research of the European University) during the residence of tourists in the camp and after the sore, “small ones are provided for “small ones Nenets Olympic Games". According to a preliminary power of attorney with host families, tourists are provided with national competitions, and the Nenets are guaranteed additional earnings and motivation to continue the tradition - both direct financial and intangible (all the camps are enthusiastically prepared for competitions, there is a male and female part of the competition; senior relatives living in the villages come for their own). It is important that the “purity of the genre”, the historicity of the rules of sports are preserved; This is emphasized as additional value (the data is collected as a result of the author's observation in April 2025 in the area of ​​the village of Payutao).