Social and cultural aspects of free independent tourism

According to the main changes which take place in the field of organization of tourism nowadays, the free independent tourism should be considered as one of the most perspective directions of development not only of touristic area but also of area of hospitality, culture and leisure. Because of active development of free independent tourism the following positions have a special significance: the substantiation of methodological approaches to definite its essence; to study of backgrounds of becoming and development of this kind of tourism in Russia and abroad; to study not only the social and cultural aspects of free independent tourism as a popular kind of personal activity in leisure but also to disclose its specific features. The disclosing of essence and specifics of free independent tourism is very productive, at least, in two areas. On the one side, the free independent tourism represents the dynamics of consumer behavior in the changing economic conditions and leads to the greater independence from the touristic firms. On the other side, this kind of touristic activity has to be considered not only in the system of forms and directions of human leisure activity, but also as an instrument of satisfaction of wide spectrum of leisure needs and personal interest, and as a method of its enculturation. The characterization of basic features of free independent tourism, the definition of its essence and function in the context of social and cultural human activity disclose the new perspectives for all-round systemic study of conditions of functioning of this kind of tourism and its further development. The free independent tourism will evolve steadily and rapidly as one of kind of leisure industry, which is directed to satisfy and to develop the personal needs for spiritual and cultural development, cognition, communication and recreation. The social and cultural content is a qualitative characteristic of free independent tourism and the most important method which allows joining the tourists with culture, to develop and to generate their new spiritual needs.