Olga Yu. Voronkova - Altai State University, Barnaul, Russian Federation
Sabina T. Akhmedkhanova - Daghestan State Technical University, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation
Sergey A. Nikiforov - Southwestern State University, Kursk, Russian Federation
Alexey V. Tolmachev - Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin, Russian Federation
Igor B. Vakhrushev - V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russian Federation
Afanasiy A. Sergin - North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. Ammosov, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Yakutsk, Russian Federation

This study aims to investigate the ecological and environmental impacts of the tourism cluster as a driver of regional tourism market development. The tourism industry can lead to adverse effects on the environment and ecosystem. It can place immense pressure on an area and result in catastrophic impacts, including increased pollution, soil erosion, natural habitat loss, massive pressure on endangered species, and intensified vulnerability to forest fires. However, the tourism sector assumes a significant function in solving the regions' socio-economic problems by creating additional jobs, ensuring the growth of employment of the economically active population, and improving the welfare of the nation. Nowadays, tourism is one of the drivers of economic recovery, which has a stimulating effect on the development of such related fields of the economy as accommodation services, transportation services, communications, trade, souvenir production, catering, agricultural production, construction, pharmacy, etc. Tourism is important for the socio-economic development of many regions of the Russian Federation. For example, the Altai Territory has a high level of tourism-recreation potential, in the region. There are unique natural and tourism-recreation resources, objects of cultural and historical heritage, vital political, economic, sports and cultural events. Despite this, the lucrative industry's environmental damage should be taken into consideration and minimized as far as possible. To achieve the aim of this study, several methods were employed including a persuasive strategy for discernment, interconnection and association, general logical strategies such as methods of scientific abstraction, modeling, analysis and synthesis, as well as grouping and comparison, analysis of the regulatory framework, literary sources, statistical data and a comparative method. Finally, some recommendations were brought about to benefit from this increasingly popular industry, while keeping the damage to the environment to a minimum.

Tourism, Environmental impacts, Tourism market, Tourism cluster, Infrastructure, Ecosystem