Discussions in Yakutsk centered around the concept of artistic travel, a new approach to tourism.
Saturday, May 31st, lit up with the II International Forum of Creative Industries, "Created in the Far East: From Creativity to Economy". A buzzing business session, "Creating a Tourism Hotspot: The Nexus of Creativity and Travel", took center stage. This event, hosted in Yakutsk and reported by Yakutia 24, pulled together industry experts and enthusiasts for a riveting discussion on fostering creative industries and tourism.
The session was masterfully moderated by Spiridon Sivtsev, the big boss at the Yakutia Tourism and Territorial Marketing Agency. Setting the stage, he said, "Today, we're set to dive into successful project examples, draw from experts' insights, and brainstorm ways to develop a tourism and cultural powerhouse that thrives on the synergy of business, creativity, and stellar talent."
One of the star guests was Vyacheslav Romanov, popularly known as Panda Sakha, a true Yakutian tourism sensation and shameless self-promoter. Known for his captivating videos showcasing the raw essence of rural life, pulse-pounding fishing, the breathtaking wilderness of the North, and delectable local grub, his online presence magnetizes masses from far and wide.
"As the pandemic took the world by storm, we kicked off our social media push using a simple smartphone to record videos. Viewership was dismal at first, but nothing deters a man with a vision! We religiously uploaded a video each day, and over time, some posts hit the jackpot, garnering sizable traction. We began with around 10 new followers a day – now, we onboard 5,000 followers daily hailing from every corner of the globe. Our record daily follower surge clocked in at an astounding 100,000," Panda Sakha passionately recounted.
He offered some pearls of wisdom for aspiring content creators: "Persistence is key; post daily. I don't speak a specific language in my videos to ensure a broader audience – the silent film hero Charlie Chaplin, after all, managed to convey the full range of emotions sans words."
Ayaal Feyedorov, a renowned Yakutian sculptor and cosplayer, known as Just Ayaal, shared his brainchild – a life-sized reconstructed woolly mammoth herd.
"I commenced my odyssey as a cosplayer, whipping up stylish threads for popular characters. My crew of artists, designers, and tailors now join me on this artistic voyage. We accept custom commissions for various artistic works. Interestingly, our art objects serve as catalysts drawing tourists and are instrumental in attracting visitors," Just Ayaal elucidated.
In the spotlight, invited experts showcased their accomplishments in cultivating tourism in various Russian territories. Maxim Smirnov, one of the heads at the prestigious Studio Artemy Lebedev, spoke about formulating a design code for the ancient city of Suzdal.
"When we revamped Suzdal's design code based on its millennia-long history, we noticed local businesses adopting this aesthetic for their branding. This homogeneity significantly boosted brand recognition. An unbranded product loses value rapidly, so a design code is crucial to winning consumers over," Maxim Smirnov asserted.
The session doubled as a grants sharedulse, enabling guests to glean nuggets from the experts, exchange ideas, and forge a blueprint for transforming Yakutia into a magnet for travelers, captivated by its unique cultural heritage and creative wealth. Participants had the opportunity to pick the speakers' brains and contribute to meaningful discussions on the future of creative tourism in Yakutia.
While the official session details don't reference "Creating a Power Spot: At the Intersection of Creativity and Tourism", broader insights reveal a burgeoning interest in fostering creative industries and tourism in Yakutia, with an emphasis on preserving local identity and sustainable development.
- Panda Sakha highlighted the importance of persistence in content creation, mentioning how he gained a global following by daily uploads of captivating videos about Yakutsk's lifestyle, home-and-garden, and travel.
- Just Ayaal discussed his life-sized reconstructed woolly mammoth herd as an example of integrating creativity and education-and-self-development, explaining that these artistic works not only serve as attractions for travelers but also generate custom commissions.
- Maxim Smirnov spoke of the revamping of Suzdal's design code, emphasizing how it enhanced brand recognition for local businesses and presented a model for sustainable development in tourist areas, intersecting creativity with travel and bringing economic growth.
