The article is devoted to assessing the trends of digital development of the educational space of the industrial macro-region. As indicators of the digital development of the educational space, the state of informational openness, the use of special software tools, the implementation of educational programs using distance learning technologies and e-learning were considered, their dynamics was studied. The paper presents the results of the influence of digitalization processes on the spatial organization of the regional vocational education system, and based on the selected indicators, the digitalization index is calculated. The analysis of the indicators and the results of the research made it possible to assess the trends in the digital development of the regional educational space in the context of an information society. Keywordsregional system of professional education, digital economy, indicators of digitalization.I.

The article is devoted to the study of "regional system of professional education" concept, the identification and characteristics of its constituent components. The classification of factors influencing the regional system of professional education functioning and development in terms of new industrialization is presented. The factors related to the process of information society emergence are performed as a separate group. The thesis of new information era accompanied by the digital economy development is proved. The regional system of professional education concept being transformed in terms of information society is argued: while maintaining the traditional elements, further innovative ones are still being introduced; it would obviously lead to a new role of professional education system in both the national and regional economy. Keywords -regional system of professional education, digital economy, factors.

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The situation with the emergence of COVID-19 has made significant changes in the globalization process. The pandemic has caused problems of social and economic nature in most countries of the world, where the introduction of restrictive measures leads to more negative consequences in various sectors of the economy. In the current conditions, an important task for the government is to identify new opportunities for social and economic development, the choice of strategy and tactics for promising directions of the national economy. The current situation, when the countries' economies become similar to a closed system, makes it possible to check the stability of the economic system and its subsystems, to identify new ones or to reconsider the attitude towards the available development resources. One such resource is the vocational education system. The article examines the possibilities of social and economic development of Russia in the context of a pandemic based on the accumulated human potential, which has particular importance for the functioning society. During a pandemic, the innovations in the vocational education system have great importance: digitalization of the educational system, the use of innovative learning technologies such as distance learning technologies, e-learning, etc. The article provides statistics and the place of Russia in world rankings demonstrating the state of accumulated human capital, the existing opportunities identified for the future development of the vocational education system as one of the development drivers. Innovations in the vocational education system require careful study, analysis, adaptation since any innovations have a different impact (both negative and positive).

The article puts forward the idea that visiting friends and relatives tourism (VFR tourism) is quite an attractive and promising kind of tourism in economic terms contrary to the common opinion about it being a minor and not profitable one owing to the fact that VFR trip makers spend less money than other types of tourists as they do not use local accommodation, restaurants, attractions and so on. Using the results of ample foreign research the authors claim that current VFR tourist expenditure appears to exceed (when the average host´s spending is added) that of tourists falling into other categories. A VFR tourist sufficiently often uses commercial accommodation facilities and prefers active pastime including dining, city sightseeing, visiting museums, theatres. The paper also identifies and systematizes the main characteristics of VFR tourism, which provides considerable economic benefits to the appropriate destination areas. Particular emphasis is put on creating jobs, a ´seasonal compensation´ to the temporal flow pattern, local revenue mobilization because of VFR trips repetition and regularity, as well as a popularization of destination through VFR tourists responses and word-of-mouth advertising. In reference to Russia, the authors substantiate the expediency of maintaining and developing the international segment of the VFR tourism market and the necessity for scientific research into the internal Russian VFR tourism market potential.