Strategic alternatives for the developing regions with resort and recreational specialization

The regional development strategy formation is naturally based on existing and alternative specializations stabilizing the growth of socio-economic indicators of the territories. Many subjects of the country have resort and recreational potential, but its effective use is possible in specially created macroeconomic conditions favorable for attracting investments, infrastructural transformation of territories and image promotion of resorts in the domestic and foreign markets of tourist and recreational services. The article is aimed at identifying alternative development strategies for the regions with resort and recreational specialization. The authors consider strategic planning problems for the health tourism development at the level of tourist centers. The article assesses the impact of resort and recreational services on the regional economy, systematizes tourism destinations and proposes and the basic principles of a cluster approach to the studying development features of the health tourism services sector.