The new tour programs of Belgorod state museum of folk culture as a way for involving various categories of the population in cultural tourism

The study is aimed at the development of new tour programs in Belgorod state museum of folk culture. For the solution of the stated goals the authors use general scientific and special research methods. The article considers the problems and prospects for museum tourism development in the region, identifies cultural and social functions of leisure as a fundamental element in the development of new tour programs. The author's vision of the concepts of "museum tourism" and "quest tour" is presented. The authors state that visiting museum as a form of leisure activities contributes to personal development, meets cognitive, aesthetic and other needs and at the institutional level creates a favorable atmosphere. The article defines the types of tours offered in Belgorod region: historical, nature-based, and ecological tours. The authors consider the basic steps associated with the formation of excursion services, the presentation of the cultural heritage of the region. The article reflects selected by the authors development factors of tourist and excursion services and define in detail the significance of cultural heritage objects of Belgorod region. The results of a survey of tourists, conducted by the authors, contribute to an objective assessment of the popularity of the excursion objects of Belgorod region. The authors discuss the ways for involving different categories of the population in cultural tourism, develop the program of the quest-excursions in Belgorod state Museum of folk culture. The main direction of the quest-trips is to revive and preserve the cultural traditions of Belgorod region. The main consumers of developed quest-excursions "Origins" are pupils of 9-11 classes of secondary schools and students of Universities and Colleges in the city of Belgorod. Extension of knowledge about the traditional culture of Belgorod region and Russia as a whole is the needs of presented target audience.