Moscow has become a venue for an important event in the field of tourism: on September 25-26, 2026, the IV International Student Congress "Tourism of the Future – Make way for the young!" was held here, organized by the P. Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Timed to coincide with World Tourism Day, the congress brought together students and experts from all over the country and abroad. The program included strategic discussions, educational tracks, and practical HR sessions, including from the North Caucasus Federal University.

Leading industry experts addressed the audience. Evgeny Punev, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Health Resorts of the Stavropol Territory, spoke about the development of tourism in the region, the system of specialized education and the high demand for qualified personnel. Deputy General Director of JSC "Kavkaz.Russian Federation" Rustam Tapaev presented key investment projects in the North Caucasus and outlined the tasks of building human resources for the implementation of large-scale initiatives.

Nina Garifullina, General Director of "Allianceexpotur" LLC, spoke about the practice‑oriented approach to training specialists and the importance of partnership between the university and the tour operator. She stressed that working together gives students real professional skills, and business – ready specialists, such a union of theory and practice is one of the most effective tools for the adaptation of graduates in the industry.

Oksana Moskalyuk, Head of the Department for the Development of Ecological Tourism and Environmental Education at the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Territories of the Stavropol Territory, revealed the topic of promising areas. She noted that there are 107 specially protected natural territories of regional importance in the Stavropol Territory, and the "Kislovodsk" National Park is visited annually by more than 5 million tourists. The expert drew attention to the growing interest of tourists in deep immersion in nature and science: ecotropics are becoming an important tool for education and open up wide opportunities for young professionals working at the intersection of tourism, ecology and education.

Digital trends in the hotel business were presented by Konstantin Golubenko, Chairman of the Association of Hospitality Industry Professionals of the Karachay‑Cherkess Republic and Managing Director of 7Peaks Family Resort (Arkhyz), who spoke about the introduction of intelligent technologies: the hotel creates a digital portrait of the guest, manages the client's path and impressions, and five AI agents help collect data and adjust consumer behavior.

The session clearly demonstrated: The North Caucasus is becoming an attractive territory for starting and developing a career in the field of tourism and hospitality. Ecotourism, digital solutions and sustainable development are key vectors where young professionals can realize their potential. NCFU's participation in the congress confirmed the university's role as an important link in training personnel for a dynamically developing industry.