Assessment of Inclusive Tourism in the Russian Federation in terms of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Current Challenges and Development Prospects

The Covid-19 pandemic severely affects tourism and all the related areas. This crisis revealed all the systemic problems of the tourist industry. Regardless of how long the Covid-2019 pandemic lasts, the market will inevitably undergo dramatic changes. Obviously, at the federal and regional levels, legislation is expected to be updated in accordance with these new realities. The relevance of this research is defined by the fact that inclusive tourism provides people with disabilities not only with the opportunity to see the world and acquire new cultural and historical knowledge but also allows raising public awareness, thus helping people to understand their role in society which improves their social and intellectual well-being. This article assesses the current condition of inclusive tourism in the Russian Federation during the Covid-19 pandemic and considers the need to transform tourism by creating the framework to ensure the availability of tourist services to all categories of consumers. Throughout the study, it was revealed that the most urgent external problems in tourism development for people with disabilities in the Russian Federation are the lack of urban infrastructure and qualified staff, as well as the range of issues related to the accessibility of tourist facilities. The global pandemic cannot be perceived as an excuse to cancel the plans, because it is possible to consider the transformation of existing problems online.