Research of the engagement of Russian folk art and crafts organizations in the development of tourism

Folk arts and crafts are part of the intangible cultural heritage and represent a unique tourist resource that has a high potential for tourist attractiveness in the conditions of the economy. The article is a publication of the results of a sociological study conducted by the method of questioning, in order to determine the degree of involvement of folk art and crafts in the tourism industry. 45 of folk art and crafts organizations from 26 subjects of the Russian Federation are participating in the process of taking part. The results of the study showed that more than 70% of the respondent organizations conduct their own excursions and master classes, including for children. Slightly more than a third of them cooperate with tour operators, their visits are included in the existing tour routes. More than 70% of organizations have created museums, but less than a third of organizations have full tourist complexes, which also include hotels and catering establishments. Tourists have the opportunity to purchase folk art and crafts souvenirs both in branded stores of enterprises and at points of sale in tourist information centers, hotels, railway stations and airports, museums and other tourist sites. Transport accessibility is provided to most of the surveyed folk art and crafts organizations (as a rule, by road, less often by rail). The problems that make it difficult for of folk art and crafts organizations in tourism activities are the issues or inconsistencies for the acceptance of tourists, the lack of guides, specialists in the search for master classes, as well as the intentions of organizational and methodological support of the process with the tourism industry. The identified problems require a state approach to support the folk art and crafts in order to involve it in tourism activities.