SUSTAINABLE TOURISM ON THE POLE OF COLD

Today two geographical points in Yakutia consider themselves the Poles of cold: Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk. The policy of promoting Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk as tourist sites associated with the Poles of cold is varied according to the specific socio-economic and cultural conditions. If Oymyakon is more promoted as the Pole of cold on the scale of international and regional tourism thanks to its infrastructure, Verkhoyansk keeps the reputation of the sacred place for the local population, but also of the place for scientific tourism and research. The cross-sector partnerships can be seen as powerful mechanisms for building constructive relationships between tourist companies and local communities and contributing to sustainable community development. The engagement of indigenous communities and their participation in all stages of the tourism development (concept, promotion and realisation of tourist products) contribute to achieve a more sustainable development of tourism in situ. In order to study the history and different aspects of polar belonging we analyzed a large number of scientific texts, literary, historical documents, legends, folklore, stories and blogs of travelers and tourists, but also the mapped and local toponyms, interview and questionnaires.