Tourism as a driver of innovative development of rural areas (on the example of the rural settlement Zarechnoye in Velikoustyug district of the Vologda region)

Abstract

Currently, a significant part of the rural territories of the regions of Russia is characterized by low production potential, a low level of agricultural development. For such territories, tourism could be the driver of socio-economic growth and innovative development in time. It was therefore increasingly important to develop a conceptual approach to rural development based on tourism innovations, which was the aim of the study. To achieve the goal, the following methods were used: conceptual approach to rural development, economic and statistical methods, sociological survey, expert assessment, data capture and other methods of analysis and synthesis. The results of the survey: an analysis of the socio-economic situation of the rural territory was carried out on the example of the rural settlement of Zarechnoye in the Veliko-Ustyug district of the Vologda region, the main problems were identified: demographic and infrastructural, as well as a low level of productive potential. Based on the analysis, a conceptual approach to rural development was proposed through the development of tourism innovations. The conceptual goal is to increase the attractiveness and innovative development of the rural settlement of Zarechnoye based on its natural and cultural and historical potential. The projects proposed within the framework of the approach were aimed at improving and increasing the attractiveness of the territory for internal (local population) and external entities — investors, tourists, to promote the settlement in the external environment as a promising area for life and a favorable place for recreation. The target indicators for the development of rural settlement had been set: an annual increase in the number of residents registered on the territory of the settlement, and the formation of a stable inbound tourist flow. Scientific novelty: the originality of the author’s conceptual approach to the development of rural areas was determined by the possibility of their integrated development through the creation of a coastal tourist and recreational zone, which made it possible to fully realize the cultural, historical and natural potential of rural settlements. Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used by regional and local authorities and management to develop programs and projects for the development of tourist activities in rural areas. Conclusion: The study suggests that the creation of tourist and recreational areas in rural areas, taking into account the cultural and natural heritage of settlements, will contrib¬ute to the effective realization of their tourism potential and can become an incentive for innovative development of rural areas in modern conditions.

Keywords

• rural areas
• tourism
• innovations in tourism
• innovative development of rural areas