LOCAL TOURISM AS A DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY OF SMALL TERRITORIES: POST-PANDEMIC TRENDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES

Abstract

In the research the general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, comparative, systemic, economic and statistical analysis are applied, that allowed to consider the tourist industry on the basis of as local tourism multi-level system in the socio-economic system of region and in terms of regional development. The article among other typical post-pandemic trends in the tourism industry, such as growing importance of domestic tourism, digitalization of tourism services and changes of tourists’ behavior, focuses on the concept of slow tourism. The critical infrastructural problems are pointed out, among which the most important ones are the accessibility by transport, underdeveloped service and digital infrastructure, scares investment resources and weak institutional support, that limit the potential of the tourism sector at the local level. Scientifically based directions for enhancing local tourism efficiency are provided in terms of the complex set of measures related to the infrastructure modernization, digital tools implementation, tourism product diversification, management systems optimization, and human capital development. Domestic tourism can be shown to have a multiplier effect through its stimulation of related industries, jobs, and local government income, demonstrating the indirect effects. Improvement in the mechanisms for development of local tourism should be based on the principles of sustainability, competitiveness and integration into the space of global tourism, providing for the stable economic growth of small territories within the context of crisis and post-crisis transformations.