SPECIFICS OF RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA

The paper describes specific characteristics of rural tourism development in Russia which largely depends on traditions and peculiarities of the agricultural sector, a share of the rural population in its total population. Its further development is determined by the priority of domestic and incoming tourism, the rise in agricultural production. Since tourism is a complex phenomenon, the study of tourism should be based on the interdisciplinary approach, accounting for the multiplier effect on the associated activities and complexity of the tourism product. The authors identify the most important features of the rural tourism: sustainability, connection with the local natural and cultural-historical resources, and interaction with the agro-industrial complex. The role of government is defined in the regulation of tourism in general and the rural tourism in particular. Prospects of the rural tourism are dependent on the use of the existing farms and the emergence of new rural guest complexes or houses. The most successful in this regard should be considered the cluster approach aimed at strengthening the growth impulses through the coordinated activity of rural communities and agricultural complexes, investments and sustainable use of the natural resources. However, some issues still have to be solved, such as information support, standardization of accommodation services and evaluation of service quality in the rural tourism, transport accessibility, training of qualified personnel. In this respect, professional self-regulating organizations, both acting and newly created at the regional level, should play a regulating and supporting role.