Strategic perspectives for the development of transboundary tourism in the Altai mountains region: geo-information analysis and spatial modeling
Views: 0 / PDF downloads: 0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32523/3107-278X-2026-156-3-125-141Keywords:
Шекарааралық туризм, Таулы Алтай, ГИС негізіндегі кеңістіктік талдау, туризм кластерлері, инфрақұрылымға қолжетімділік, тұрақты туризмді дамыту.Abstract
Transboundary tourism has emerged as a significant catalyst for regional integration and sustainable development, especially in environmentally diverse and geographically intricate mountainous areas. This study analyzes the spatial configuration and developmental prospects of transboundary tourism in the Altai Mountains Region, encompassing Kazakhstan, Russia, China, and Mongolia. The research used a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based multi-criteria analytical technique to evaluate the distribution of natural and recreational resources, infrastructure accessibility, and cross-border connectivity. The findings indicate considerable spatial inequalities, wherein regions of high ecological significance, mostly linked to designated protected natural areas, correspond with restricted accessibility and infrastructural limitations. The analysis delineates four primary tourism clusters: West Altai, Central Altai, East Altai, and Mongolian Altai, each distinguished by unique functional specializations and differing degrees of development. These clusters constitute a polycentric tourist system organized by hierarchical ties and transnational connections. The study introduces an innovative "four-core" spatial model, conceptualizing the region as a cohesive system with gateway, natural, growth, and ethnocultural centers. The approach prioritizes complementarity and connectedness over rivalry, offering a strategic framework for equitable and sustainable tourism development. The results enrich the theoretical comprehension of transboundary tourist systems and provide pragmatic insights for policymakers and regional planners seeking to improve cross-border collaboration, infrastructural advancement, and environmental sustainability in mountainous areas.
Downloads
References
Әдебиеттер тізімі
Adeleye, B. N., Aderounmu, B., Owolabi, O., Okafor, V., & Ohonba, A. (2023). Examining the influence of ICT innovation in the finance-tourism nexus in Asia. Transnational Corporations Review, 15(3), 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/19186444.2022.2107331
An, L., Shen, L., Zhong, S., & Li, D. (2023). Transboundary ecological network identification for addressing conservation priorities and landscape ecological risks: Insights from the Altai Mountains. Ecological Indicators, 156, 111159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111159
Badyelgajy, Y., Sharawpurew, C., & Byambasuren, S. (2025). Trends in the growth of the ecological footprint of tourism in the Mongolian and Kazakhstan Altai mountains. Journal of Ecology and Sustainability, 153(1). https://doi.org/10.32523/47t96918
Baniya, R., & Thapa, B. (2022). Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Mountain Tourism in the Himalayan Region. In Tourism and Development in the Himalaya (pp. 245-264). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003030126
de Grosbois, D., & Fennell, D. A. (2024). Sustainability and ecotourism principles adoption by leading ecolodges: learning from best practices. In Ecotourism Essentials (pp. 117-132). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2021.1875170
Dunets, A. N., Ivanova, V. N., & Poltarykhin, A. L. (2019). Cross-border tourism cooperation as a basis for sustainable development: A case study. Entrepreneurship and sustainability issues, 6(4), 2207. https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2019.6.4(45)
Dunets, A. N., Gerasymchuk, N. A., Kurikov, V. M., Noeva, E. E., Kuznetsova, M. Y., & Shichiyakh, R. A. (2020). Tourism management in border destinations: Regional aspects of sustainable development of protected natural areas. Entrepreneurship and sustainability issues, 7(4), 3253. http://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2020.7.4(45)
Gelbman, A., & Timothy, D. J. (2011). Border complexity, tourism and international exclaves: A case study. Annals of tourism research, 38(1), 110-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.06.002
Gretzel, U., Sigala, M., Xiang, Z., & Koo, C. (2015). Smart tourism: foundations and developments. Electronic markets, 25(3), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-015-0196-8
Han, J., Han, F., Dunets, A., & Batbayar, B. (2024). Mapping transboundary ecological networks for conservation in the Altai Mountains. Ecological Indicators, 169, 112869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112869
Ianioglo, A., & Rissanen, M. (2020). Global trends and tourism development in peripheral areas. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 20(5), 520-539. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2020.1848620
Kapoor, D., & Jain, A. (2024). Sustainable tourism and its future research directions: a bibliometric analysis of twenty-five years of research. Tourism Review, 79(3), 541-567. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-11-2022-0540
Kuklina, M., Dirin, D., Filippova, V., Savvinova, A., Trufanov, A., Krasnoshtanova, N., Bogdanov, V., Kobylkin, D., Fedorova, A., & Itegelova, A. (2022). Transport accessibility and tourism development prospects of indigenous communities of Siberia. Sustainability, 14(3), 1750. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031750
Malczewski, J., & Rinner, C. (2015). Multicriteria decision analysis in geographic information science (Vol. 1). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-74757-4
Novelli, M., Schmitz, B., & Spencer, T. (2006). Networks, clusters and innovation in tourism: A UK experience. Tourism management, 27(6), 1141-1152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2005.11.011
Pechlaner, H., Innerhofer, E., & Erschbamer, G. (2019). Overtourism: Tourism management and solutions. Routledge. https://books.google.com
Pomfret, G. (2006). Mountaineering adventure tourists: a conceptual framework for research. Tourism management, 27(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2004.08.003
Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters. Innovation, and Competitiveness: New Findings and Implications for Policy. https://www.isc.hbs.edu
Prokkola, E. K. (2007). Cross‐border regionalization and tourism development at the Swedish‐Finnish border:“Destination Arctic Circle”. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 7(2), 120-138. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250701226022
Samgar, Z., Fang, H., Baizakova, A., Sekenuly, A., & Mazbayev, O. (2025). BIODIVERSITY OF THE ALTAI REGION IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: EXPERIENCE OF TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION. Вестник ЗКУ, 100(4), 420-433. https://doi.org/10.37238/2960-1371.2960-138X.2025.100(4).188
Selezneva, E. V., & Rotanova, I. N. (2021, February). A Transboundary environmental and tourism cluster in Western Altai: recreational and geographic substantiation. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 670, No. 1, p. 012058). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/670/1/012058
Sigala, M. (2020). Tourism and COVID-19: Impacts and implications for advancing and resetting industry and research. Journal of business research, 117, 312-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.015
Stoffelen, A., & Ioannides, D. (2025). Cross-border tourism governance: opportunities and challenges. Handbook on Tourism Governance, 116-129. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800374287.00018
Stoffelen, A., & Vanneste, D. (2017). Tourism and cross-border regional development: Insights in European contexts. European Planning Studies, 25(6), 1013-1033. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2017.1291585
Tanina, A., Tashenova, L., Konyshev, Y., Mamrayeva, D., & Rodionov, D. (2022). The tourist and recreational potential of cross-border regions of Russia and Kazakhstan during the COVID-19 pandemic: Estimation of the current state and possible risks. Economies, 10(8), 201. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10080201
Timothy, D. J. (2016). Relationships between tourism and international boundaries. In Tourism and borders (pp. 9-18). Routledge. ISBN 9781138273924
Więckowski, M. (2023). How border tripoints offer opportunities for transboundary tourism development. Tourism Geographies, 25(1), 310-333. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2021.1878268
Yang, Y., & Fik, T. (2014). Spatial effects in regional tourism growth. Annals of tourism research, 46, 144-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2014.03.007
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Imanaly Akbar, Gulnar Kubessova, Altynbay Saulembayev, Zabira Myrzaliyeva, Miras Galimov, Marat Mamadiyarov (Автор)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
