Geography of tourist flows in the Republic of Mordovia

Introduction. The topic is of relevance due to the need to study tourist flows in terms of the geography of tourist trips in order to analyze and compare the directions of the flows. The problem is that the authorities responsible for tourism management in the region and tourism organizations do not always pay due attention to the geography of the tourist flow and to its optimization in terms of the interests of the region itself. At the same time, the identified trends can be taken into consideration in order to improve and increase the efficiency of the tourism industry in the region and when making managerial decisions in the tourism sector. Based on the results of the study conducted, the article characterizes the travel destinations of Mordovian tourists, reveals trends, and proposes measures to solve the identified problems. Materials and Methods. The materials on the development of tourism in the Republic of Mordovia published by the Territorial Body of the State Statistics Service in the Republic of Mordovia for the period from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed; data from the Digital Tourism service run by MegaFon mobile phone operator were also examined. The methods of mathematical statistics employed made it possible to calculate the changes in the relative and absolute indicators of the geography of the tourist flow in the republic over a ten-year period. To identify the geography of the regional tourist flow, the methods of analysis and generalization were used, which made it possible to identify the features of the internal and external tourist flows of people living in Mordovia. Results. An analysis of the dynamics and placement of inbound and outbound tourism has been carried out; the volume of the tourist flow has been considered; the features of the geography of the tourist flows have been considered; the problems that hinder the more effective development of tourism in the republic have been revealed. The measures aimed at improving the efficiency of tourism activities in the region have been proposed. Discussion and Conclusion. The study made it possible to identify the main trends in the geography of the tourist flows of residents of Mordovia, as well as the causes and features of the ongoing transformations. The results of the study can contribute to the elaboration of an effective program for the development of tourism in the republic, to the adoption of productive managerial decisions in the field of tourism in the region, and to optimization of the geography of the tourist flows.