Role of rural tourism and directions of its development in the modern economy of Russia

The establishment of quarantine restrictions and lockdowns due to the spread of the epidemic have seriously affected and continue to affect the tourism industry in Russia. Rural tourism in Russia is a relatively new type of tourism, which has received an impetus for development against the background of border closures caused by the pandemic. This type of tourism in our country has a good prospect for attracting domestic, and with the opening of borders for foreign tourists. Russia has endless opportunities to promote rural tourism by offering interesting places and farms that have the resource and desire to receive tourists. The article examines the modern significance of the rural tourism industry for the socio-economic development of Russia, outlines the current trends. The authors emphasize that in the pandemic economy, rural domestic tourism has undoubted advantages, allowing to maintain social distancing, which makes it possible to develop it even in conditions of rather severe anti-epidemic restrictions. Emphasizing the importance of rural tourism and the lack of due attention to the promotion of the industry, the authors highlight possible directions for the development of the rural tourism sector in relation to the Russian economy. In particular, the article outlines the need for the formation of the infrastructure of rural tourism, improving the quality of training of personnel employed in the field of rural tourism, assistance at the regional level in the formation of rural tourism services as a comprehensive proposal.