The economy of the Crimea is currently developing in special conditions of the «transition period», aimed at the gradual adaptation of the socio-economic system of the peninsula to the priorities of the innovative way of development of the Russian economy as a whole and its individual regions. The article analyzes the dynamics of the sectoral distribution of the economy of the Republic of Crimea after its entry into Russia. The attention is focused on the fact that the solving of the arising contradictions and problems is impossible without active state support and financing of the regional economy. Taking into account the specifics of the Crimea as a sanatorium-resort region, it is justified that the largest contribution to the volume of regional production is made by the services sector connected with the needs of tourists resting in the Crimea. The strategic mechanisms of development of the tourist sphere of the Crimea, aimed at solving the problem of uneven use of tourist potential, are considered.