Tourist product as a basis for the competitiveness of the tourism business

The article is devoted to the study of the foundations for ensuring the competitiveness of the tourism business, particularly through the formation of an effective tourist product. The purpose of the article is to analyze, systematize, and summarize the theoretical and methodological foundations for ensuring the competitiveness of the tourism business and to justify the structure of a tourist product that meets modern challenges and market needs. The article presents a comprehensive study of the tourist product as a key element of the competitiveness of the tourism business. A literature review enabled an analysis of the concepts and definitions of the tourist product, with official interpretations of this concept provided according to international and national regulatory acts. It is determined that a tourist product is a socially beneficial result of the activities of the tourism business in the field of tourism, provided in both material and non-material forms, satisfying the social, aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, and physiological needs of tourist consumers, jointly produced by the tourism business entities and related sectors—transport, trade, culture, communication—based on the use of tourist, natural, geographical, infrastructural, human, economic, and other factors and resources of the destination. The study substantiates the significance of the tourist product in realizing the tourism potential of a destination and the economic potential of tourism market entities. The main characteristics of the tourist product are identified, such as its complexity, variability, and incompleteness until the end of its consumption period. A classification of types of tourist products is presented, including integrated, single, core, partial, and complex products. The study reveals the interconnection between the components of the tourist product, such as tourist resources, transportation, accommodation, and service offerings, and their impact on the competitiveness of the tourism business. It is noted that the tourist product is not just a combination of material and non-material services but also a complex of emotional and psychological components that create a unique experience for tourists. The importance of flexibility in the offer and assortment of tourist products to meet the diverse needs of tourists is justified. Keywords: tourist product, competitiveness of tourism business, tourism services, tourism market, consumer needs.