A.E. Tarasov, associate professor, Ph.D.
I.A. Cherkashin, professor, Dr.Hab.
Institute of physical culture and sport of North-Eastern federal university, Yakutsk, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Key words: sports and recreational tourism, tourism and recreational potential, modernization of tourism demand, transport infrastructure, severe climatic conditions.
Tourism, including sports and recreational one in Yakutia, is an underdeveloped sphere due to undeveloped transport infrastructure, severe climatic conditions and immense distances. Many cherished tourist zones are unaccessible even for air transport. Yakutia is an undiscovered and incompletely accessible part of the world. Its potential is in the rich natural landscape and cultural diversity, which is a key attractor for domestic and foreign tourists.
The modern status of tourism in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is recently characterized by such factors as intensification of state support of both republic legislative and executive bodies and local government, tourist objects and routes available in the republic stipulating for priority development of inbound and  domestic tourism, development of the infrastructure.
Formation of the image of Yakutia as a northern region possessing unique tourism services and creating of good reputation is one of the tasks of tourism in the republic. It requires creation of the arranged, well designed and organized marketing system of promotion and distribution of tourism services to a consumer.
The purpose of the study was to analyze the situation at the tourism market and perspectives of its development using the unique potential of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

References

1. http://reestr.russiatourism.ru/ – Federal register of tour operators. (In Russian)
2. http://www.planetyakutia.com/ – web-site “National travel company Yakutia Ltd.”. (In Russian)
3. http://www.goyakutia.com/ – National web-site dedicated to tourism in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). (In Russian)