Introduction (Введение). Small and medium-sized business entities play an important role in the development of Russian tourism industry. Thanks to the efforts of the authorities, nationwide nonprofit organizations which are representing the interests of entrepreneurs and also development institutions to implement support measures of favorable conditions for development of small and medium-sized business entities in the sphere of tourism are being created. Significant growth potential of the tourism role in economic and social development of the federal subjects of Russia is maintained (Аndrejchenko, Muhina, 2022).

However, the tourist activity of Russian people remains subdued. According to the data of Russian Public Opinion Research Center, only 45 % of the inhabitants in average have had a rest the region different from the region of residence for the last 5 years. This testifies to the necessity of further higher level of tourist product accessibility for the citizens of the country and stimulating motivation to travel (Zhizhileva, 2017).

One of the demand-constraining factors for development of domestic tourism is the low awareness of Russian touristic brands on the foreign markets and within Russia including the existence of missed opportunities for development for system of promotion with the use of modern information, marketing and other technologies; prejudices (stereotypes) of foreign citizens about tourism in the Russian Federation – «insecurity», «language barrier», «negative geopolitical image» etc.

State support for priority areas should be formed based on the principle of the most contribution to the achieving goals and benchmarks of Tourism Development Strategy in the Russian Federation (Galoian, Karapetian, Mazurenko, 2018).

Belgorodia is the pearl of the Central Russia with rich history and culture, unique scenery. In 2023 there were 180 collective accommodation facilities in the region where 283,0 thousand people had a rest. To services of guests visiting there are 127 hotels and similar accommodation facilities hotel room capacity of 3,1 thousand rooms and one-time capacity of 6,1 thousand beds, 53 specialized accommodation facilities with 2,1 thousand rooms capacity of 7,1 thousand beds. Income from accommodation services was 2371,6 mln rubles (Gutova, 2013).

Table 1

 Number of travel agencies in Belgorod region

 Таблица 1

Количество турфирм Белгородской области

Note: The source is compiled by authors based on their own research

Based on the data of Federal statistical observation, 116 travel agencies operated in the region in 2024. 4 of them were engaged in only tour operator activities, 19 specialized in tour operator and travel agency activities, and the rest 93 operated as travel agents. Almost all agencies are privately owned.

Table 2

Number of package tours consumed by the population

Таблица 2

Число турпакетов, реализованных населению

Note: The source is compiled by authors based on their own research

In 2024 residents of the region bought 16,8 thousand of package tours, which is 5,5% less than in 2023. The cost of purchased tours increased by 41,8%. In general, 32,1 thousand people applied for touristic services.

Table 3

Services purchased by the public in the sphere of tourism, thousand rubles

Таблица 3

Платные услуги населению в сфере туризма, тыс. руб.

Note:The source is compiled by authors based on their own research

20,6 thousand people went on a trip to Russia, 11,4 thousand people went on a trip to the foreign countries. In domestic tourism citizens of Belgorod mostly chose Krasnodar region (45,6%) and the Republic of Crimea (10,9%) for holiday destination. For International trips Turkey is the most popular destination (40,8% of tourists chose it among other countries).

Рис. 1. Объем платных услуг населению в сфере туризма, тыс. руб.

Fig. 1. Volume of paid services to the population in the tourism sector, thousand rubles

Источник: составлено авторами по результатам собственных исследований

Рис. 2. Затраты санаторно-курортных организаций, связанные с производством и реализацией продукции (работ, услуг, товаров), тыс. руб.

Fig. 2. Costs of health resort organizations related to production and marketing
(work, services, goods), thousand rubles

The growth of tourism products segmentation and promotion of self-organized tourism contribute to the encouraging diversity of types of tourism on the territory of the Russian Federation. Significant development is typical for tourism products which are based on the combination of several types of tourism. These factors define the necessity of the flexible approach to the allocation of types of tourism.

MaterialsandMethods (Материалы и методы исследования). When conducting research, we analyses the current regulations, focused on the development of agro-tourism.

Results. The allocation of priority types of tourism should be carried out individually for touristic territories of the Russian Federation considering touristic resources and peculiarities of the economic and social development.

In Tourism Development Strategy in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2035 (Government Resolution of the RF dated 20 сентября 2019 № 2129-р «О Tourism Development Strategy in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2035») there are the following definitions of types of tourism (Leushkina, 2024):

- «industrial tourism» – visits and events on the territory of the object allowing he customers to understand the processes and secrets of production in the past, nowadays and in future (ГОСТ Р ИСО 13810-2016 «Touristic services. Industrial tourism. Service provision»);

- «rural tourism» – the type of tourism that supposes the temporary placement of tourists in the rural area with the aim of rest and/or participation in the agricultural work without pecuniary interest of a tourist.

To our point of view, agro-tourism combines several types: industrial, rural and children and other types of tourism (figure 3). The nature of child tourism is due the implementation of 3 basic functions – the development of the personality (education, upbringing), recreation and rehabilitation.

Rural tourism is accommodation in the village, participation in agricultural work, picking mushrooms and berries, fishing and hunting, animal care.

Farm tourism is visits to the farms, participation in volunteer programs, farm products tasting, familiarity with the production (cheese factory, apiaries, wineries).

Ecotourism – recreation on the farms, hiking and biking tours, educational eco-programmes, eco-camps.

Culture and ethnographic tourism is study of traditions and life, participation in folk celebrations, acquaintance with folk crafts.

Gastronomic tourism is the festival of traditional cuisine, cooking workshops, tasting and familiarization with local products.

Educational manufacturing tourism – agricultural schools, internships, excursions to the agricultural and industrial facilities, workshops on crafts and agriculture.

Labor education of schoolchildren and raising the prestige of industrial worker jobs are nowadays the key directions of agro-tourism development in the region.

Thus, agrotourism presents the complex direction of tourism that combines cognitive, ecological, cultural, gastronomic and practical activities and aims the people’s acquaintance with rural life, agricultural production and the natural heritage of the region (Volkov, Morozova.2016).

The situation is here uneven. On the one hand, Belgorod region is resource-rich agro-industrial region: eterprises, historical villages, traditions, gastronomy, peaceful natural landscapes. All mentioned above create atural basis for agricultural tourism. On the other hand, there are some difficulties that are characteristic of the majority of Russian regions: lack of quality infrastructure, the imperfect preparation of enterprises to receive tourists, lack of experience in marketing and service, and also large quantity of objects that could work legally, but prefer keeping a low profile because of regulatory complexities.

Nevertheless, demand for rural recreation is growing especially among residents of large cities who look for peaceful weekend routes and «honest» farm impressions – from tastings to participation in village workshops. That is why agrotourism in Belgorod region is nowadays during the active development phase: legal framework has become clearer, the region offers the financial support, entrepreneurs size up this direction more closely, and the tourist interest grows. For the next few years comprehensive infrastructure development, improvement of the service quality and further adaptation of the regulations to real-world conditions will become the key factors in the formation of sustainable and competitive industry.

The agrotourism development implies the complex approach which takes into account economic, social, cultural and moral, educational and other aspects. It also implies the strengthening of its role in patriotic education, enlightenment and labor potential formation for the young generation of the regions of the Russian Federation. Author's model (algorithm) of interaction between main stakeholders in the development of agro-industrial tourism is presented in № 11 (130) magazine Economics, Labor, Management in the agriculture.

One of the main areas for improving the system of data collection and analysis on tourism development on the territory of the Russian Federation is the creation of a unified register of objects displayed and tourist infrastructure, which can be converted into an interactive map of the region / country. The developed interactive map of industrial tourism in Belgorod region contains systematic information on areas of the region with a description of industrial facilities. This product is a convenient tool for users, supporting local production, thereby enhancing the region’s appeal to tourists (Galoian, Karapetian, Mazurenko, 2018).

Рис. 3. Элементыагротуризма

Fig. 3. Elementsofagro-tourism

Источник: составлено авторами по результатам собственных исследований

Рис. 4 Интерактивная карта промышленного туризма Белгородской области