Perspectives for creating a new tourist product in the Russian part of Bolshoi Ussuriysky island

The author of the article describes the current status of the inbound tourism in the Khabarovsk Region, and identifies its key development characteristics as a moderate growth rate demonstrated by the domestic tourism sector and extremely low growth rate of inbound tourist traffic. Thus, the author thinks it feasible to conclude that the increase in the number ofnon-business visitors to the Khabarovsk region is insignificant. The major reason for the currently low status of both inbound and domestic tourism is a lack of globally renowned natural and man-made attractions in the area. However, the Khabarovsk Region in general and its individual territories in particular have a high tourist potential that can only be unlocked through a special project-oriented approach. The article provides an example of such an approach: the firstjoint Russian-Chinese project to create a new tourist product in the Russian part ofBolshoi Ussuriysky Island. 32 научный журнал ВЕСТНИК АССОЦИАЦИИ ВУЗОВ ТУРИЗМА И СЕРВИСА Том 8. 2014 / №3 The project is designed to ensure a sustained social and economic development of the area through a creation of a tourist complex and increasing both domestic and international tourist traffic. At the initial stage of project implementation, such new tourist products as cultural, educational, ecological, fishing, horse-riding "city breaks". The major attraction for international tourists (Chinese tourists in particular) is familiarization with Russian culture, traditions and life style. Practice shows that, despite the obvious risks, the prospects of the new tourist product introduction and a tourist complex creation will offer significant strategic and competitive advantages.