Actual problems of development of tourism infrastructure of Armenia and Russia

The article describes the main provisions of the report of the rector of Russian State University of Tourism and Ser- vice, A. A. Fedulin on the Fourth Russian-Armenian interregional forum. The article reveals the vision of prospects of development of tourist infrastructure as promising areas of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia. Tourism is a tool for exploring historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Republic of Armenia, which awaken high tourist interest. Tourism is an integral element of Russian-Armenian trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation. The author proposes solutions for the strengthening tourist exchanges between the countries and takes into account the current social and economic conditions and development trends of tourist flow. Also he makes the proposals to build a unified tourism space between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia in the framework of the provisions of the strategy of development of cooperation of States-participants of CIS in the field of tourism for the period up to 2020. There are presented perspectives of expansion of the tourist flow of Russians in the Republic of Armenia in the result of the work on simplification of tourist formalities. The author gives the estimation of the factors limiting accessibility of the tourist product of the Republic of Armenia. As the result, there are proposals on integration in tourism information space of Russia and the promotion of tourism potential of the Republic of Armenia. In this regard, he makes the hypothesis about expediency of use of various channels and ways to increase awareness of tourism products and brands of the Republic of Armenia in Russia. Based on the experience of scientific-research developments of the University, the author shows the possible areas of cooperation, including conducting joint projects on development of tourist complex of the Republic of Armenia, as well as in the field of training and retraining of personnel for tourist industry and infrastructure.