To the genuine role of tourism in projects for environmental and economic areas of mountainous districts

Subject. Like any other industry, tourism has its own contradictions, which, if not comprehended, will inhibit the construction of the tourism and recreation sector, which would be adequate to available resources and prevent eliminating adverse effects of such natural management as much as possible. Objectives. In this study, we contemplate on the role of the recreation sector in the socio-economic development of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic at a new crucial point of its history when a new owner assumes the office at AO Kurort Elbrus, the main mountainous tourist complex in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. We examine the nature of current drastic changes in the management of AO Kurort Elbrus, conduct the economic analysis of trends in the financing activity of the company for the recent five years, and make a preliminary forecast of possible implications of changes in the ownership of Kurort Elbrus. Methods. We used the methods of statistical, predictive, logic analyses, and field study. Results. Due to the quick change in the ownership structure of the main mountainous tourist center in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, it is necessary to revise current processes in terms of possible implications of the analyzable case for the republican economy. Current trends in the management of the tourist center cannot be definitely evaluated. Certainly, the possibility of new financial injections into the sector may seemingly contribute to the development. However, the fact that the would-be investor chose the upper reaches of the Baksan Valley as a target for investment will ignite the controversial reaction of the mountainous community. Conclusions and Relevance. Currently, the region of Elbrus concentrates interests of legal private landlords and owners of tourist infrastructure, public property and specially protected natural areas. This is the land where contradictory functions of land overlap. The tourism authorities' decision to quickly change the owner in this environmentally and economically complicated area raise much doubt.