New horizons for the development of domestic tourism: the national project «tourism and the hospitality» – «Five Seas and Lake Baikal»

In the current context of geopolitical instability and international sanctions, the development of domestic tourism is particularly urgent. The development of new centers of attraction for domestic and inbound tourists contributes to the diversification of regional economies, the strengthening of national identity, and the improvement of the country tourism image. This paper presents a comprehensive geographical study of the prospects for the development of domestic tourism within the framework of the national project "Tourism and Hospitality". The focus is on the large-scale "Five Seas and Lake Baikal" initiative, aimed at creating new year-round tourism and recreation zones of federal significance along the coasts of the Azov, the Baltic, the Caspian, the Black, and the Japanese Seas, as well as Lake Baikal. The research methodology is based on a systems approach and includes a comparative geographic analysis, as well as a detailed SWOT analysis allowing us to identify and classify the internal and external factors affecting tourism development in each participating region: Primorsky Krai and Krasnodar Krai, Irkutsk Region and Kaliningrad Region, the Republic of Dagestan, and the Republic of Crimea. The study demonstrates that, despite their high natural and recreational potential, all planned territories face a range of challenges, including climatic seasonality, transport remoteness, a lack of quality infrastructure, and environmental risks. It is shown that successful project implementation is only possible with the diversification of recreational offerings beyond beach recreation and a comprehensive solution to infrastructure and logistical constraints. The proposed methodological approach can be applied to the assessment of other large-scale state spatial development projects in the tourism sector.