Social importance of children's tourism in a region

Introduction: children's tourism is an important type of tourism in the Russian regions, in particular in the Republic of Mordovia, as it is an effective technology, contributing to healthy lifestyle of a child, to development of their spiritual and moral qualities and intellectual abilities, active stand in life, which emphasizes the social importance of children's tourism. Despite the importance of children's tourism as a kind of social tourism, there is no thoroughly examined scientific basis for it, although scientists have attempted to formulate the concept of children's tourism, to identify its nature and functions and to show its social importance. Materials and Methods: the study was conducted on the basis of archival materials, reports of trade unions in different years, bibliographic sources, statistical data and Internet resources related to the Republic of Mordovia. The methods of the study were: analysis, synthesis, generalization, historical and statistical methods, content analysis and observation. Results: the article considers the issue of the lack of scientific development of children's tourism as a social category. The main forms of children's tourism were characterized (amateur sports, educational, health-improving, excursion and cognition ones), its social importance was revealed. The historical aspects of the development of some forms of child tourism in the Republic of Mordovia were considered. Discussion and Conclusions: currently, the conditions for the development of children's tourism in the Republic of Mordovia are favorable. Its social significance is confirmed by the state support and active social policy in the sphere of security and full-fledged children's recreation.