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.

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