Travel preferences of Finnish cross-border tourists: Opportunities and limitations for Russian Karelia

The study aims to examine travel preferences of Finnish cross-border tourists with special reference to the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Data were collected using paper-based and online surveys from 300 respondents travelling from Finland to the Russian Karelia. Although cross-border tourists are a significant part in the inbound tourist flow to Russian Karelia, several obstacles for this type of tourism have been revealed. Measures to stimulate Finnish tourists to travel to Russian Karelia are suggested. The results of this study can be used to improve Karelian tourist products by providing services as expected by tourists. The findings are limited to visitors of Russian Karelia and should therefore be interpreted with caution.

A review of grass flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) of Karelia and Murmansk Province of Russia

One hundred and sixteen species of Chloropidae (Diptera) are recorded in Russian Karelia and Murmansk Province: 112 in Karelia and 44 in Murmansk Province. Twenty-two and seven species are new for Karelia and Murmansk Province, respectively. Calamoncosis oscinella is for the first time reported from Russia and Elachiptera breviscutellata - from European Russia. Pseudogaurax venustus is reinstated as Gaurax venustus. Taxonomic notes are provided on Eribolus nana, Polyodaspis ruficornis, Oscinella vindicata and Cetema simile. The distribution and biological data are given for every species. Point maps are provided for species with at least one exactly known location. The zoogeographical structure of Chloropidae fauna on the examined territories is briefly discussed and compared with other north-European countries.