Improvement of the state regulation of tourist activity in the Russian Federation: history and modernity

The article deals with the correlation between certain powers of state authorities of the Russian Federation in the sphere of tourism and the legal means of influencing activities of participants of tourism and excursion relations that took place in the USSR. The author has formulated the thesis that the modern reinterpretation and the judicious use of the Soviet experience will identify possible areas of improvement of the current legislation regarding tourist activities and reduce its excessive susceptibility to the international law.