Tourism Typology of the Cities in the Volga Federal District

The article proposes a tourist typology of large cities of the Volga Federal District (VFD) with a population of over 100 thousand inhabitants. The purpose of the study is to assess and differentiate cities and subjects of the VFD by the level of infrastructural tourism potential. The methodology is based on a point assessment, which takes into account the number of collective accommodation facilities and the availabilty of sanatorium facilities. Based on the analysis of 38 cities, five levels of infrastructure potential have been identified - from very low to very high. It has been established that the cities located mainly on the banks of the Volga and Kama rivers (Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Tolyatti, Izhevsk) have the highest potential. At the second stage, a comprehensive assessment of the level of development of the tourism and infrastructure facilities of the subjects of the VFD was carried out, taking into account such indicators as the number of agricultural enterprises, catering enterprises, recreational employment and the potential of large cities. The regions are classified into three groups: with high, medium and low levels of development. Based on the integral analysis, the zoning of the territory of the VFD into three large tourist and recreational zones is proposed: Central (the most developed), Southern (with medium and low potential) and Northeastern (with an average level of development). The results of the study can be used to develop strategies for the development of tourism and recreation at the regional level.