Strategic approach to tourism development in small towns

The article analyzes the problems and directions of implementing a strategic approach to the development of tourism in small towns. In the context of the development of the supporting spatial frame of the country, an objective need arose to study the tourism sector as a tool for economic growth and improving the well-being of the population of small towns. The aim of the work is to identify the features of applying a strategic approach to the development of the tourism sector in small towns by assessing their current state in Russia, as well as developing ways to improve the process of strategizing the tourism sector. General scientific methods of synthesis, analysis, systematization, statistical data processing are applied. The most successful urban practices of strategic development of tourism are considered: Ples, Suzdal, Torzhok. It is shown that in order to achieve economic growth, it is possible to turn the city into a tourist destination. Based on the study of scientific and expert opinions, as well as an analysis of the actual strategies of cities, the authors proposed a model to ensure the sustainable development of tourism in small towns, which includes the following strategic factors: strategy or master plan of the city; comfortable urban environment; project and cluster approach; territory brand; involvement of government, business and local community; socially responsible tourism and ecology. The types of tourism are summarized, and recommendations are developed for the formation of strategic factors for ensuring the sustainable development of the tourism sector. An important direction should be a strategic approach to the development of small towns in order to ensure the interconnection and interconnection of the main documents of strategic planning and socio-economic development at all levels. The practical value of the study is that the developed recommendations can be used by local governments at the stages of development and implementation of urban tourism development strategies.