The full and comprehensive inclusion of sustainable tourism in Russian tourism studies and thematic plans of disciplines at the present time are particularly important nowadays. Meanwhile we can note very superficial and simplified understanding of the concept of sustainable development in tourism, when they simply proclaim the necessity of taking into account natural, social limitations, and interests of the local economy, but at the same time, the Russian researchers and teachers do not have enough awareness of all the possible refractions of this problem. Passed at the 22nd of September 2016 in RSUTS scientific-practical seminar «Sustainable rural tourism in Russia» was drafted to help resolve the identified problems. Leading international and Russian experts in the field of sustainable tourism development gave the examples of their own researches which demonstrate the breadth and multi-dimensionality of sustainability in tourism. There were presented and illustrated with the method of case studies such topics as 1) the correlation of center and periphery as a factor in the long-term sustainability in tourism; 2) service orientation as a factor of long-term competitiveness of destinations; 3) the problem of finding the optimal balance between state regulation and ethnic autonomy; 4) the interests of local residents and their informing with the positive results of tourism development; 5) factor of liminality in tourist experiences; 6) avoidance of excessive standardization and universalization of tourism products as a factor of competitiveness of peripheral destinations; 7) the concept of touristscapes and taskscapes; 8) optimal route network and reference point for the sustainable development of tourism; 9) the importance of tourism for the depressed rural settlements of Russia; 10) the peculiarities of small businesses processes in rural tourism, 11) entrepreneurship as the factor of increase of stability and competitiveness of the tourism industry under crisis conditions. These and other aspects of sustainable tourism development were the subject of extensive discussion at the scientific-practical seminar, which resulted in a more complete understanding of the paradigm of sustainability in the current realities of the Russian tourism industry. The article presents views, concepts and elements of academic debate, which took place during the seminar from representatives of five countries: Russia, Norway, Australia, Sweden and Iceland. The purpose of this publication consisted in the systematization of the academic content of the reports and scientific messages, and the explanation of how they can contribute to strengthening the concept of sustainable tourism as a comprehensive and productive paradigm in tourism research and education-conceptual approach.
The Potential of Rural Tourism Development in the Azores Islands from the Perspective of Public Administration and Decision-Makers
