Comparative analysis of the tourism industry importance for the economies of the BRICS countries

The development of tourism and the increasing contribution of the industry to the economy of the Russian Federation are among the priority areas of government activity. This is evidenced by a number of regulatory documents aimed at the development and support of this type of economic activity. Special attention is paid to the development of tourist exchanges with the countries of the BRICS interstate interstate group. The article provides a comparative assessment of the five BRICS core countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in terms of the importance of the tourism industry for the economies of these countries. The importance of the tourism industry was assessed using the rating method. A set of six factors was assessed: the industry’s share in the country’s GDP, the share of people employed in the tourism sector, the number of inbound tourists per 100 people of the country’s population, the international tourism expenditure, the number of domestic tours per 100 people of the country’s population, and the average occupancy rate for star-rated hotels. The tourism industry is an important economic sector with good growth prospects for all the countries under consideration. Each of them competes in the field of tourism, offering a unique combination of attractions, cultural heritage and hospitality. Working together in this area helps the BRICS countries overcome barriers and achieve better results.