Domestic Tourism as a Conductor for the Russian Identity Development

Introduction . Over the centuries, a special identity has been formed in Russia, uniting various cultures, traditions and ethnic groups. In this context, the specifics of state policy have always implied recognition and respect for the culture and traditions of the peoples living in the country, aimed at preserving their identity. This article is devoted to substantiating the author’s hypothesis that elevating the problem of domestic tourism development to the rank of a national project is aimed at nation-building of modern Russian statehood and strengthening the Russian identity of the multi-ethnic composition of the country’s population as a single nation. The purpose of the article is to explicate the contribution of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality” to the strengthening and development of Russian identity as a single people of Russia. Materials and Methods . The study was conducted on the basis of sources including regulatory and legal acts of the Russian Federation, data from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, information articles from websites devoted to the topic under consideration, research by foreign and domestic scientists in the problematic field of national identity, intercultural communication, and tourism development. This made it possible to explicate the role of tourism as a significant factor in the development of Russian identity using historical, philosophical, sociological, and political science concepts, the dialectical method, a systems approach, and structural and functional analysis. Results . The principle of historicism is applied to consider the stages of formation of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality” with an explication of its structure and functions of each project in its composition. Stimulating moments for financial support of the projects’ implementation are designated. It is shown that in addition to raising the level of popular tourist centers, the national project on tourism, taking into account the involvement of all subjects of the Russian Federation in its implementation, determines the incentive for the transformation of unique topoi, which the country is extremely rich in, and which to this day are beyond the boundaries of tourist provision, into new places of attraction for tourist flows. Discussion and Conclusion . Consideration of the national project from the point of view of tourist immersion of Russian citizens into the very core of the country’s ethnic diversity determines its significance as a factor aimed at strengthening the unity of the Russian people. The complexity of national tourist routes includes the theme of the foundations of Russian statehood, contributes not only to the popularization of domestic tourism, but also plays a decisive role in strengthening Russian identity.