Zarina Tuskayeva from Ossetia, the nominee of the “Pro!” contest, is in love with her native land and wants to introduce it to as many tourists as possible.
Zarina Tuskayeva, founder of the online travel agency “Vgori”, creates individual tours of North and South Ossetia and Dagestan. One of the most pleasant feelings for her is the feeling that she is trusted: “I always do the tour so that I like it too. That’s why you can’t help but like him—I’m strangling him.”
Is it true that in Does everyone in Ossetia carry weapons?
Speaking about stereotypes about Ossetia, Zarina Tuskayeva tells a life story. She used to live in Moscow and worked as a journalist for central television. One of her friends from there asked if it was true in Does everyone in Ossetia carry weapons and is it very dangerous there? “I asked her: “What makes you think that?“ — says Zarina. “Well,” says a friend, “the Information field.” And I didn’t try to convince her, but just invited her to visit at the first opportunity. She stayed here for a week, and all this time she had a smile on her face.”
Zarina is sure that tourists who first came to Ossetia, they get such pleasure primarily from the hospitality of local residents and their friendly attitude. Travelers, in turn, note that in Ossetians stick to traditions, try to preserve the language and not lose cultural values. “On the contrary, sometimes it seems to me that we are not doing enough,” says Zarina. — Then I asked my friend: “Well, is Ossetia dangerous?”And she replied: “Zarina, you actually live in paradise.” It was my first experience of breaking stereotypes.”
From cinema to the travel business
Zarina Tuskayeva admits: North Ossetia is not just her homeland, it is her soul, which is why it is so important for her to popularize her native land with the help of her tours. Tourism, however, is not the only place where her love for the region and creative potential are revealed — before the birth of her first child and entering the tourism business, Zarina shot more than 100 documentaries about Ossetia, actively engaged in ethnography and culture and even translated more than 30 Soviet animated films into Ossetian. And then it came to an understanding that all the knowledge and experience that had been accumulated during this time could not be lost, and the next step to be taken was to engage in tourism, because this is another way to draw attention to Ossetia and tell as many people about it as possible.
Zarina is actively developing in the professional field — she monitors how domestic tourism is developing, looks at innovations and tries to implement them in her online agency. “First of all, I need to transfer knowledge, experience and emotions,” says Zarina. — When you do this, a person forms memories. And if you think about it that way, a memory is all that ultimately remains with a person. I am inspired by the fact that I love Ossetia very much, and this is often enough to move forward.”
Attention to detail
Zarina Tuskayeva believes that in every trip — group or individual — it is necessary to pay maximum attention to details, because already at the stage of request formation it becomes clear which driver and guide to choose for each particular tourist and which route to send him.
“The puzzles should come together just perfectly, because I’m stifled in everything related to work,— says Zarina. — For me, the ideal tour is the one that completely coincides with the requests and wishes of the person. For example, someone has allergies, someone does not like fast driving, someone’s blood pressure rises. Everything must be taken into account so that a person leaves here happy.”
For Zarina Tuskayeva, it is important that people not just come, look at the mountains and take pictures against their background, but get something more: immerse themselves in culture and find some simple but very important stories for themselves: “A person pays money not for food and a hotel, but for your inner state. For example, now people sometimes just need to drink fresh milk, eat warm bread, and have a heart-to-heart conversation with the locals. To feel this time is that you are here and now, and there is beauty around, and you get pleasure and feel hope. Because now, in the moment, everything is fine.”
Many clients say that Zarina Tuskayeva has completely changed their view of this region, and they return to Ossetia over and over again.
Year results and plans
Now Zarina Tuscayeva has about 150 completely turnkey trips under her belt. She says that this is a lot for her — despite the seemingly modest figure, she is confident in each of the tours conducted, and it is definitely done with high quality. “I have achieved all the goals for 2023,” Sarina shares the results. — It is clear that everyone has their own point A and B, but I have reached my goal. We have developed author’s tours of Ossetia, opened new destinations, and even climbed a glacier with a group. We have participated in various All-Russian exhibitions. Of course, there was personal growth too — I was trained at various educational sites in the field of tourism and hospitality.”
Zarina and her team also have ambitious plans for next year — they want to expand their geography by adding Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria and the Caucasus to the destinations, and try new formats adapted to each traveler individually. Zarina says her goal is to make even more people happy.
About the competition
The “Pro!” competition is held within the framework of the “Know our PRO” project. Its purpose is to introduce those who create domestic tourism today. You can find the stories of all the participants who announced themselves before October 31 on the project, as well as on the Profi pages.Travel.
At the end of December, the organizers of the Know Our PRO project will choose three people who will receive additional prizes: the opportunity to present their project/company at the online exhibition “Know Our: Summer 2024” (2 invitations). One of the participants will receive the main prize — 5 days of rest for two at the Sochi Park Hotel from the tour operator Anex.
Photo from the personal archive of Zarina Tuskayeva
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