Resort dysfunction: essence, causes and solutions

The article introduces the territorial and functional concept of "resort dysfunction". This concept is used in the meaning of "non-use" of buildings and territory (land, parks, beaches) of the resort area and includes the "resort wastelands" without people, marginal areas unsuitable for organized tourism with unclaimed and invaluable potential of the area. These are popular objects of "wild" tourism, mud therapy, excursions. The phenomenon of resort dysfunction is typical for all countries of the world and for all major types of touristic areas. Such territories are in need for special programs for rebirth (recovery). The authors describes the cases of different countries revealed the main causes that led to the desolation of resorts. Analysis of the causes of resort dysfunction provides an adequateassessing the degree of danger of the main destruction factors. It is difficult to predict the group of geopolitical factors and factors of natural and man-caused disaster. All other factors-causes of resort dysfunction can be solved as tasks of strategic (long-term) socio-economic and territorial planning, tourism and technical design. For Russia, the main reasons of resort dysfunction are organizational and financial-economic. There are many unfinished buildings and structures at the abandoned and not commissioned resorts,. The modern "resort long-term construction" in Russia is turning from a construction problem into a threat to the health of the country's population. Old sanatoria without supplement and renovation of the fund lose their appeal in the market of medical resort services. Resort areas with unique balneological resources require the restoration with preservation of medical specialization. This demands special legislative initiatives, including at the regional level. Poverty of the population, the growth of deferred demand for wellness services are active destructive factors for the system of health resorts. The author considers specific examples of a modern solution for the reuse of abandoned resorts.