Tourism development in border areas: a benefit or a burden? The case of Karelia

Border regions are expected to benefit from their position when it comes tourism de­velopment. In this article, I propose a new approach interpreting the connection between an area’s proximity national border and development of at municipal level. The aim study is identify strengths limitations borderlands as re­gards in seven municipalities Karelia. examine summarised data available online other resources, well my own observations. Using medi­an values, rely on method content analysis strategic documents cross-border My research focuses recreation potential analyses local infrastructure. de­scribe major types tourism, tourist flows, consider aspects areas by comparing inland Kare­lia investigate role international crossing points tou­rism borderlands.