Tourist Identity of the Irkutsk Region from the Point of View of Industrial Tourism

The study examines unexplored tourism opportunities in the Irkutsk region, known for its distinctive features and attractions, particularly the field of industry. Irkutsk region is one of the leading industrial centers of Siberia. Such industries as power engineering, mining, machine building, chemical and woodworking industries are developed here. It creates a great potential for the development of industrial tourism. Currently, tour operators' offerings of industrial tours are relatively limited, mainly targeting groups of students from high schools, colleges or universities interested in learning first-hand about a particular industry and its development and products. Using a case study approach, the article examines the prospects for brand building in the Irkutsk region in the context of industrial tourism. The results of the study offer valuable ideas and recommendations for strengthening the region's tourist attractiveness. Creating a tourist identity leads to the formation of the image of a tourist destination, which, in turn, affects the motivation of tourists to visit this region and, ultimately, affects its income. The authors have tried to emphasize the critical need to create a tourist identity in the Irkutsk region through industrial tourism in order to create an image of the region capable of attracting new tourist flows within the Russia and from outside.