Tourism as a tool for creating specialized centers of economic growth in the Russian Arctic

Subject. The article discusses the formation, functioning and modernization of economic clusters in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation as specialized centers of economic growth. Objectives. The study aims to summarize the experience of forming a cluster-type economic growth center specializing in tourism in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Methods. The study draws on general scientific research methods. Results. The paper considers stages of development of Arctic tourism, the history of tourism development in the Murmansk Oblast. It summarizes the experience of creating a cluster-type economic growth center specializing in tourism in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. We established that the achievement of the task of advancing the development of the Arctic territories and diversifying the structure of their economy is possible through the development of tourism. This is confirmed by the successful experience of ongoing projects in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The paper also reviews prospects of further development of Arctic tourism. Conclusions. Increasing the tourist flow to the Murmansk region, launching new tourism products and changing attitudes towards tourism as a type of activity can contribute to the development of the economy of small towns, single-industry towns and depressed territories.