Segmentation of Regional Tourist Flows

Abstract

The article introduces theoretical foundations for regional tourist flows segmentation. It is a management tool that distributes, attracts, and restrains tourist traffic. The research objective was to develop some methodological recommendations for segmentation of regional tourist flows based on goals and attributes. The study involved domestic and foreign research publications, materials of the World Tourism Organization, specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias, methods for calculating inbound and outbound tourist flows, legal documents on segmentation, etc. The list of research methods included comparison, analysis, synthesis, system and complex approach, tabular method, graphic modeling, etc. The obtained results were represented as algorithms for analysis and segmentation of regional tourist flows, which can be used in the theory and practice of tourism, in federal, regional, and local tourism management, in tourism education, etc. The authors believe that segmentation of regional tourist traffic produces targeted tourist products, replenishes local budgets, ensures sustainable development of recreational areas, and prevents negative consequences of tourism development.