Urban Identity and Tourist Appeal of Urban Spaces: A Sociological Study

This article examines the development of tourist infrastructure in the historical center of Smolensk, one of the oldest cities in Russia with rich cultural heritage. Smolensk possesses hundreds of cultural heritage sites from various eras, attracting tourists from all over the country. Despite active grassroots initiatives by local communities, there is a lack of a comprehensive vision for urban development and tourism potential. The main problem of the urban space lies in the absence of a comfortable and informative urban environment for tourists and residents. The article presents the results of a sociological study aimed at identifying problems and opportunities for the development of tourism infrastructure in the central part of Smolensk. The main findings include determining the social portrait of a typical tourist, associations that arise among residents and guests of the city when Smolensk is mentioned, scenarios of tourist behavior and identified problem areas in tourist routes around the city. Recommendations for enhancing Smolensk's tourist appeal can be used to develop a city development strategy.

Keywords: urban space; historical center; tourist infrastructure; urban identity; sociological studies

For citation: Dvoinev V.V. Urban Identity and Tourist Appeal of Urban Spaces: A Sociological Study // Social Novelties and Social Sciences. – 2024. – N 3. – P. 124–135.
DOI: 10.31249/snsn/2024.03.09

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