Country: Soviet Union (USSR)
Type: Membership badges
Varieties: 1 - Smaller star and smaller letters
2 - Bigger star and bigger letters
3 - Bigger badge
Years: 1930s
"Tourist of the USSR" - the title in the USSR and the corresponding badge of distinction.
The sign was issued after passing the norms and passing a sports tourist trip. The first symbol of initiation to tourism, approved on March 26, 1939 by the All-Union Committee for Physical Culture and Sports under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR.
In 1935, the Presidium of the Central Council of the Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions (OPTiE) decided to establish a badge.
In the regulation of 1935, receiving the badge "Tourist of the USSR" should have given the right to members of the OPTiE to be called tourists.
To obtain which it was necessary: to pass the norms for the "Ready for Labour and Defence of the USSR" badge (GTO); make a tourist trip for six or more days; be able to read a map, navigate by it, by compass, sun, stars, local objects, be able to organize a bivouac (set up a tent), light a fire, cook food; know the correct mode of movement, rest, food and drink; know your native land; have basic knowledge of geography and geology; be able to write a report about your trip.
But during the existence of the OPTiE, the matter was not brought to an end, and a new provision on the badge was developed only four years later at the Tourist and Excursion Administration of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions.
In the regulation of March 17, 1939, the Badge could be issued to all citizens of the USSR who have reached the age of 18, have a two-year tourist experience and have completed at least 2-3 (depending on difficulty) trips.
In addition, tourists must submit at least one travel report and have theoretical and practical knowledge of tourism in the scope of the special program.
The program of requirements and standards was published in the fifth issue of the magazine "On land and at sea" for 1939.
The program provided for the following knowledge: reading a map and the ability to navigate both on a map and in local subjects; the ability to choose a place for a bivouac; put up a tent and make a hut, build a fire and cook food on the fire.
It is also necessary to know the mode of travel, the hygiene of the tourist on the way, the elements of medical self-control, first aid on the way.
Basic knowledge of geology, botany, zoology and meteorology is required.
In addition, it is necessary to have knowledge of the type of tourism that was chosen by the tourist when making the trip:
Water tourists should know the main obstacles encountered on the rivers, their characteristics and ways to overcome them; ship arrangement; sailing; rowing and rowing device; ship practice; organization and mode of water travel; rescue work; swimming.
Tourists-pedestrians should be familiar with the equipment, movement technique, march hygiene, rescue operations, organization and travel mode.
Tourists-cyclists are required to know the classification of roads, the device of a bicycle, the technique of cycling, the organization and mode of travel.
Tourists-skiers should know the equipment, the technique of movement, the conduct of rescue operations, the organization and mode of travel.
On March 26, 1939, the All-Union Committee for Physical Culture and Sports under the Council of People's Commissars approved the regulation on the tourist badge.
The first badges "Tourist of the USSR" were awarded at the 5th forum of tourists in June 1939 to thirty-six tourist activists.