In the thesis the theoretical and methodical approaches to the constructive-geographical research of youth and children tourism have been improved, the Strategy of the development of youth and children tourism in the Volyn region has been designed. The algorithm of constructive-geographical research of the youth and children tourism has been put into the basis of the study’s methods. It renders the sequence and conditionality of the research, the current state of the youth and children tourism in the Volyn region, peculiarities of the territorial differentiation, problems, prospects, and optimization measures. The logic of the study is proved by the realization of three essential stages of the study, i.e. preparatory stage (theoretical-methodological); analytical stage (systemic analysis); final stage (synthetical).
The factors that influence youth and children tourism have been analyzed, the evaluation of the resource and tourist and socio-economical prerequisites of the functioning of the youth and children tourism in the Volyn region have been investigated. It has been determined that the distribution of the natural recreational and tourist resources on the territory of the Volyn region is uneven. We have selected two zones with the different potential of the natural recreational resources – the Northern zone and the Southern zone.
The regularity of the current state and inner regional differences in the development of youth and children tourism in the Volyn region has been determined. On average the students of the Volyn region make 600 tours annually, in which 20-22 000 of young tourists participate. It makes 14–15% of the general quantity of students. The indicators are extremely low, but since 2015 there can be seen an annual tendency for the increase in their quantity. 73 % of the general number of tours are conducted by tourists from cities Lutsk, Kovel, Volodymyr Volynsyi and Novovolynsk.
The territorial differentiation of the level of recreational development has been made. The highest level of recreational tourism is characteristic for the city Lutsk, village Svitiiaz, and urban village Shatsk. The interval of range changes within the limits from 190,5 to 234,0. The evaluation for the recreational tourist resources of the locality has been made. The highest indicators (above 60 points) are characteristic for Lutsk, Kovel, Volodymyr Volynskyi, village Svitiiaz and urban village Shatsk.
We have defined three recreational tourist areas as a result of the recreational tourist zoning of the territorial recreational system of the youth and children tourism in the Volyn region. They are the Northern area, the Central area, the Southern area. We have also defined four subareas, such as the Northern-eastern subarea, the Southern-western subarea, the Southern-eastern subarea, and the Northern-western subarea.
SWOT analysis of the youth and children tourism in the Volyn region has made it possible to reveal the weak and strong sides, possibilities and threats of further development. The Strategy of the development of the youth and children tourism in the Volyn region has been developed on the basis of the conducted analysis. The priority approaches of the Strategy include the creation and implementation of the perspective regional and local programs, the state regulation of the development of the youth and children tourism, and the development of recreational tourist infrastructure.
Precise and targeted recommendations for the development of the youth and children tourism have been suggested for the united territorial communities, for the towns’ and villages’ councils of the Volyn region, local executive authorities, national natural parks and high educational establishments.
