The impact of tourism at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21 century on sustainable development of the South of Russia

Tourism plays a key role in the economy of the Republic of Crimea, determines the dynamics of development of the region as a whole and affects the prosperity of other industries, such as the food industry and agriculture. Natural conditions, warm climate and picturesque coastline of two seas with kilometres of beaches, as well as unique historical monuments, landscape complexes and cultural objects create ideal conditions for providing a comfortable holiday in Crimea. Nevertheless, there are several challenges faced by those wishing to vacation in the resorts of the peninsula, which require a solution, first of all, the issues of transport logistics. In order to understand the main problems faced by the tourism business in the region at present and to assess the prospects open to the Crimean economy in this area, the development of the industry in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods was analysed. Based on historical and statistical data, the reasons for the attractiveness of the peninsula as an object of tourism development in Russia are shown and the prospects opening up in this area are determined