Problems faced by Russian tour operators when organizing ski turs

The development of ski tourism in the Russian Federation has a positive economic impact, contributing to the development of related sectors (such as the creation of tourist infrastructure, engineering infrastructure, and transportation infrastructure, as well as the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the service sector) and the overall development of the country’s territories. Despite Russia’s vast potential for ski tourism due to its geographical advantages, only about 3% of the country’s population visits ski resorts. As a result, there are relatively few tour operators specializing in organizing ski tours. The article achieved the goal of identifying the features of tour operator activities in this market segment and the risks associated with the implementation of these tours. The study was conducted based on an analysis of the experience of Russian tour operator companies. The author examines the problematic issues of the current activities of tour operators in organizing ski tours: complex logistics to hotels, special skills of pilots when landing in mountain airports, ensuring safety, and organizing apres-ski. The study describes the features of popular ski resorts in Russia and foreign countries, as well as the factors that contribute to their competitiveness. The author draws conclusions about the potential for promoting the development of ski tourism for Russians, as well as the promotion of tourist information that not only highlights the benefits but also the risks of this type of vacation, in order to minimize potential conflicts and unrealistic expectations.