A study of consumers and the development problems of industrial tourism in the old industrial region (on the example of the Tula region)

Over the course of the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in industrial tourism as a way to diversify regional economies and establishing a new direction of the territories development. Theoretical scientific literature and existing proposals research showed that such a development of the industrial tourism is based on limited types of production, such as food industry and electric power enterprises, as well as enterprises producing goods attractive to consumers (souvenirs, toys, cars). Experience in the development of industrial tourism shows that city and state authorities can stimulate the development of industrial tourism in the region using the potentials of the enterprises comprising its main economic base. Depending on the degree of interest of producers and possible benefits for the region, there is a need for flexible support of enterprises from other tourism actors. Local educational establishments can assist in building modern tourism products and developing effective marketing strategies. The practical significance of this work lies on the a survey of 564 potential industrial tourism consumers. It revealed rather significant differences in interest of the tourists in organizing and filling programs, depending on gender and age of the respondents.