The metatheoretical study of the tourism system of the Volgograd Region of the Russian Federation made it possible to determine the system characteristics of tourist relations of the region. Currently, an excursion type of tourism, in particular, war-historical and theological ones, is the main one in the region; this type is organized by two types of tourism products: tours (overnight) and excursions (without staying for the night). The focused interview with an expert group revealed the components and elements of the tourism product "excursion tour", which were grouped and listed in a questionnaire to assess the importance of each component and each element of the tourism product among consumers. 332 people divided into 6 age-sex groups took part in the survey. The survey results enable to form a methodology for the integrated assessment of regional tourism products: average estimates of the importance of each component and element of the tourism product for each group of respondents have been calculated; all the elements of the tourism product have been divided into two types (impression-forming and consumption-covering), to which essentially different evaluation scales are applicable.Keywords: metatheoretical study, tourism system of the region, tourism product, excursion tour, consumer preferences, components of a tourism product, elements of a tourism product.

The article discusses the formation of rural hospitality in the Russian Federation. We describe the deep cultural, historical and spiritual roots of the phenomenon of hospitality in different ethnic groups living in our country. Proceeding from the need to find appropriate directions of rural hospitality formation, the article introduces a number of tasks that contribute to the successful solution of given problems. The article discloses the concept of "rural hospitality" in activity and spiritual aspects, characterizes motivation of rural hospitality consumers and reveals those qualities, which the owners of rural estates should have. The legal and socio-economic basics for the formation of hospitality spheres are analyzed. Terminological apparatus of GOST R 56641-2015 "Small funds accommodation services. Rural guest houses. General requirements” is carefully considered. The article highlights the important role of rural tourism in addressing a number of issues of rural areas sustainable development, such as the conservation of small settlements, the development of additional employment, increasing incomes, strengthening of youth in rural areas. The authors present own opinion on the structure and the essential characteristics of the product "rural hospitality" that includes a number of levels, each of which is the object of improving to create optimal tourist product. A systematic interpretation of the substantive descriptions of "rural hospitality service" category is suggested. The strategic directions of state policy in hospitality sphere are outlined, which is associated with the relief of the tax burden for the rural guest houses, development of infrastructure in rural areas, competent information support for the promotion of rural hospitality products in the domestic and international tourist market, the improvement of service quality in rural tourism, on the basis of staff training, development and implementation of service standards.

Одним из факторов успешного развития туризма и повышения туристкой привлекательности региона является формирование благоприятной городской среды. Анализ показателей, характеризующих уровень развития городской среды городов Волгоградской области, выявил, что в 2018 году ни один город региона не набрал необходимое количество баллов для присвоения статуса «Город с благоприятной городской средой», а в 2019 г. в число таких городов вошел Камышин. Однако в настоящее время в регионе активно реализуются проекты по благоустройству территорий и используются практики развития объектов туристско-рекреационного назначения, апробированные в регионах, достигших существенных успехов в развитии туризма: реализуется проект «Создание современного туристско-рекреационного кластера в пойме р. Царица «Новая пойма»; пять городов региона завоевали гранты Всероссийского конкурса благоустройства (Михайловка, Урюпинск, Николаевск, Палласовка и Петров Вал); благоустройство парка «Заречный» г. Фролово. One of the factors for the successful development of tourism and increasing the tourist attractiveness of the region is the formation of a favorable urban environment. An analysis of indicators characterizing the level of development of the urban environment of the cities of the Volgograd region revealed that in 2018 not a single town in the region scored the required number of points to be awarded the status of "City with a favorable urban environment", and in 2019 Kamyshin was included in the number of such towns. However, at present, the region is actively implementing projects of the area improvement and the practice of developing objects for tourist and recreational purposes, tested in regions that have achieved significant success in the development of tourism, are using: the project “Creation of a modern tourist and recreational cluster in the floodplain of the river Tsatitsa "New floodplain"; five cities in the region won grants from the All-Russian landscaping competition (Mikhailovka, Uryupinsk, Nikolaevsk, Pallasovka and Petrov Val); a large improvement project in the city of Frolovo has been completed.

The investigation project, implemented by the authors is devoted to solving of important scientific and practical problem of understanding the processes, that occur in society and nature, more specifically on development of methods of complex metatheoretic investigation of imperatives for preservation of environmental assets of Volgo-Akhubinskaya plain due to development of balanced tourist and recreation activity and minimization of anthropogenic impact of the non-organized tourist flow. Objects of this part of investigation is detecting factors, affecting the tourist and recreation activity effectiveness at the nature park 'Volgo-Akhtubinskaya plain' and determining the high anthropogenic impact on the environmental assets of this nature territory and on finding ways for its elimination.For detecting the main problems of preservation of nature and development of tourist and recreation asset of this specially protected natural reservation we used the focused interview with the employees of the State budget-funded institution of Volgograd region 'Nature park Volgo-Akhubinskaya plain', as well as studying the special aspects to organize the activities, program and accounting documents of this institution.