Innovative Initiatives and Tools of Inter-Municipal Cooperation in the Development of Tourism in Single-Industry Towns

This research paper is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of inter-municipal cooperation in the field of tourism with a special focus on the development of single-industry towns in Russia, which are characterized by high economic dependence on a single city-forming enterprise. The article discusses in detail the current trends in domestic tourism, including the dynamics of growth of tourist flows and the impact of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality” on the development of tourism infrastructure and the creation of favorable conditions for family and mass recreation. The authors identify three key directions of development of tourism in single-industry towns: industrial, culturalhistorical, and ecological tourism. These directions are considered important tools of economic diversification, contributing to the reduction of territories’ dependence on one sector and increasing their sustainability. The article analyses the peculiarities of the socio-economic situation of single-industry towns and their classification according to the level of sustainability, as well as the challenges associated with social tension and limited resources. Special attention is paid to inter-municipal cooperation as an effective mechanism for combining resources, experience and management practices to create integrated tourism products and improve regional competitiveness. Legal and organisational aspects of cooperation, its voluntary and multi-level nature, as well as the role of the state in supporting and encouraging joint initiatives, are analysed. The article emphasises that the development of inter-municipal cooperation in tourism contributes to a sustainable socio-economic development of single-industry towns, improving the quality of life of the population and creating new opportunities for the regional economy. In conclusion, the article offers recommendations for improvement of interaction mechanisms and tourism potential development, taking into account modern challenges and prospects. Authors’ contribution. S.G. Pyankova – analysis of the potential of intermunicipal cooperation in the development of tourism in single-industry towns in Russia, structuring the features of single-industry towns; O.Yu. Makarkina – description of the main areas of tourism, analysis of key barriers to intermunicipal cooperation, and development of recommendations for competitiveness growth and sustainable development of single-industry towns.