Importance The article is devoted to the methodology to manage tourist clusters. The relevance of the topic is due to the intensification of the process of creating tourism clusters in the territory of the Russian Federation in the framework of the Federal target program "Development of domestic and inbound tourism in the Russian Federation for 2011-2018", approved by the Government of the Russian Federation of August 02, 2011 № 644 (as amended on February 18, 2014). Objectives The purpose of the study is to develop a system to manage tourist clusters. Results I have addressed the following objectives: studying the existing methodological and scientific development and the identification of organizational problems in the management of tourist clusters, as well as the development of methodological proposals aimed at solving the problems identified. My paper systematizes and summarizes the basic approaches of Russian and foreign scientists to the determination of objectives and methods of managing tourist clusters, as well as to the formation of the organizational structure of cluster management. I propose a new approach to classify cluster management tasks by kinds of synergies resulting from the operation of the cluster. I have developed a two-dimensional classification of tourism clusters in function and task management. I have suggestions to organize a tourism cluster management, which include the organizational structure, job descriptions and the identification of sources of funding. I have developed a system of management of a tourist cluster, which includes the object and the subject, management purposes and tasks, administrative functions and methods, the organizational structure of the entity of management. Conclusions and Relevance I have concluded that the introduction, in practice, of the managing tourist clusters proposed system will enhance the efficiency of using different methods of management by a clear delineation of responsibility for the implementation among participants in the management process. The developed system may be used in the formation of methodical documents for executive bodies and management of tourist clusters that will increase the efficiency of their activities.
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