Religious tourism in Rostov region: the problems and development prospects

The article examines the problems and prospects for the religious tourism development on the territory of Rostov region. Religion has the same long history as humanity, therefore religious tourism is considered one of the most ancient types of tourism. Russia has great potential for the religious tourism development. However, many experts admit that this potential is not being fully realized. The reasons include underdeveloped infrastructure; lack of information about available resources and routes; lack of qualified personnel in this area; lack of financial support for the development of religious tourism and pilgrimage; weak links among pilgrimage services and tourism industry in the region. Rostov region, in this sense, is also no exception. The region has many religious sites attracting pilgrims and tourists from all over the country. The most famous objects of religious and pilgrim tourism on the Don are Military Resurrection Cathedral in st. Starocherkasskaya, Patriarchal Voznesensky Troops Cathedral in Novocherkassk, Rostov Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and many others, as well as wonderful lively springs, especially the source of the Virgin in the village Petrovka, Myasnikovsky district. It should be noted that only the coordinated work of the pilgrim services and tourism organizations is able to revive, preserve and improve the objects of religious tourism and pilgrimage and recreate a cultural and comfortable living environment around them. The development of new tourist products of religious tourism and the creation of a tourist religious cluster in Rostov region will increase the interest of tourists in domestic inbound tourism and ensure the tourist attractiveness of the region as a whole.