Innovations in Russian tourism: ethno-tourism and sharing model

This paper aims to shed light on the prospects of ethno-tourism cluster development in Russian regions. The provided methodology is applicable for the study of the cluster approach in the field of tourism. The focus is made on good practices of ethno-clusters in tourism in the Russian regions. There are some scientific methods in this research: methods of the system and comparative analysis, a technique of assessment of resources and capacity of regions, methods of administrative diagnostics, expert estimates, a deep interview, methods of social research will be applied. Tools of a research include (depending on a solvable task): dialectic, formal and logical, concrete historical, structurally functional and statistical methods. Moreover, authors research a new economy model – sharing – and its influence of tourism area. The main results are the challenges and prospects for ethno-tourism development are defined and supported by Mari El case study. The factors exerting influence on ethno-tourism development include tourism potential of the region; attitude of ethnos and local authorities to tourism; availability of the necessary infrastructure and qualified personnel and new information technology. The conditions facilitating success of the tourism cluster development are analyzed. These include, first of all, the development of the target programme for tourism development with the emphasis on ethno-tourism on the level of local authorities; secondly, investment in tourism infrastructure development; thirdly, the sharing model will contribute to establish the ethno-tourism cluster. The research is of practical importance for modernization of domestic tourism programmes in order to boost regional economy