The XVIII International Scientific and Practical Conference "TOURISM and RECREATION: Fundamental and applied research" was held at Gzhel State University. The conference organizers are: Lomonosov Moscow State University (Faculty of Geography), Gzhel State University, the Russian International Academy of Tourism, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Geographical Society, the National Academy of Tourism and the Russian Union of Tourism Industry.

The purpose of the conference was the exchange of experience in scientific and practical research in the field of tourism and recreational activities in various regions of Russia, the search for ways to improve the competitiveness of national and regional tourism products.

More than 300 people took part in the conference in various formats, about 100 reports were heard in person and remotely.

The geography of the participants included universities and institutions of various cities and regions of Russia (Moscow and the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Irkutsk, Pyatigorsk, Tambov, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Ufa, Saratov, Sevastopol, Kemerovo, Dagestan, Karelia, etc.), foreign countries (Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia).

A tour of the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts and the production workshops of the State State University, as well as a master class on Gzhel painting was organized for the participants of the conference. The plenary session was held by the co-chairs of the conference (Rector of the Moscow State University D. S. Somov and Dean of the Faculty of Geography of the Lomonosov Moscow State University S.A. Dobrolyubov), as well as the head of the Administration of the Ramenskoye City District V. V. Nevolin. The great importance of the conference for the implementation of the national project "Tourism and the Hospitality industry" was noted in welcoming letters to the organizers and participants of the conference by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation D. S. Vakhrukov, Chairman of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry I. G. Umansky, as well as Honorary President, Chairman of the Commission of the Russian Geographical Society for the Development of Tourism Academician V. M. Kotlyakov.

The work of the sections was based on four thematic areas devoted to the most important problems of the development of recreational activities and tourism, namely: training of tourist personnel, theoretical and methodological aspects of research, sustainable development of tourism in the regions of Russia, trends in the development of recreation and tourism in new realities. The moderators of the breakout sessions were representatives of the scientific community of Gzhel State University, Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Russian International Academy of Tourism.

The conference received a great public response, new professional contacts were established, all participants of the conference noted the high level of organization and holding of the conference at GSU.

Speech by the Rector of Gzhel State University, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor D. S. Somov

Moderators of the plenary session of the conference (from left to right): S. A. Dobrolyubov, Dean of the Geographical Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences; D. S. Somov, Rector of Gzhel State University, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor; V. V. Nevolin, Head of Ramenskoye City District

Speech by V. I. Kruzhalin, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, Vice-President of the National Academy of Tourism, Head of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism of the Geographical Faculty of Moscow State University

Speech by T. V. Rassokhina, Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor, Vice-Rector for the Development of Masters and Postgraduate Programs of the Russian International Academy of Tourism, member of the Committee for the Development of Sustainable Tourism of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry, full member of the National Academy of Tourism and the Russian Geographical Society

Master class on Gzhel painting by I. V. Korshunova, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, member of the Union of Artists of Russia, Acting Head of the Department of Fine Arts and Folk Art Culture, Associate Professor of the Department of Socio-Cultural Activities and Tourism

Conference participants from Lomonosov Moscow State University with the leadership of Gzhel State University at the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts