Аннотация:The article discusses the prospects of growth of the tourist flow in Novgorod oblast and directly in
Valdai National Park with the development of winter sports and tourism, expansion of the range of recreational
services, and active ecological tourism in a year-round format. The increase in the flow of tourists in
the region is associated with the improvement of the transport and recreational infrastructure of the national
park, as well as with changes in natural (climatic) conditions. According to the authors' observations and data
from the Valdai Branch of the State Hydrological Institute in 2000–2024, Valdai experienced a slight increase
in average annual and winter temperatures and precipitation during the calendar winter (December–February).
The observed global warming makes local climatic conditions favorable for the development of winter
sports, tourism, and recreation: a relatively mild and quite snowy winter, stable snow cover for about
4 months, and a very long period with negative temperatures (also more than 4 months). Along the banks of
rivers and lakes, there are slopes suitable for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding, and in the forests and open
spaces, the conditions are favorable for cross-country skiing; winter tourist routes; horse, reindeer, and dog
sledding; snowmobiles; etc. The park has a positive experience of active development of winter sports, environmental
education and recreation. It is shown that the aggregate recommended winter recreation and winter
formats of ecological tourism on the territory of the park can include the functioning of permanent ecological
trails and excursion routes on the topic of “winter” (“snow”) ecology, student and volunteer internships,
participation in winter censuses of large mammals and birds based on tracks in snow, winter fishing,
and birdwatching, as well as photo hunting, which will become an example of “citizen science” and ecological
and educational events of the winter cycle of Valdai National Park.