Cluster approach to the wine tourism development in Russia

In recent decades, niche tourist and recreational activities such as gastronomic and wine tourism have become increasingly popular. Traditional cuisine and local products act as full-fledged factors in the formation of the cores of tourist destinations and the attraction of tourists. In the Strategy for the Tourism Development in the Russian Federation until 2035, this type of tourism is named a priority, gastronomic and wine tourism projects attract investors and are provided with active state support. The article examines the possibilities and features of wine or enotourism, one of the gastronomic tourism development directions in the Russian Federation, in the paradigm of the cluster approach. Wine tourism cluster is a promising spatial and organizational entity, which is a collection of wine-making enterprises and tourist companies that use the resources of the territory. Also, the wine tourism cluster includes infrastructure facilities, educational and research organizations that ensure the innovative development of the territory as a whole. The development of wine tourism clusters is at an early stage in our country. The first cluster of wine tourism, “Don Valley”, was created in Rostov region in 2015. This model considers the interests of all participants in the tourism and recreation cluster, and also ensures sustainable socio-economic development of the region. The creation of subsequent clusters of wine tourism in Russia will contribute to the effective use of tourist and recreational resources, the development of tourism and related industries, and increase in tourist flow. The Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol have special prospects for creating wine tourism clusters. The article presents the organizational structure of the wine cluster in Sevastopol. The development of a wine cluster in Sevastopol will make it possible to diversify the city’s tourist product, extend the high season, form additional nuclei of tourist interest in the form of wine festivals, excursions to wineries, enotherapy health procedures.