TOURIST POTENTIAL OF A TERRITORY: THE PROBLEMATICS OF DEFINING THE ESSENCE AND THE STRUCTURE
The paper deals with the conceptual definitions of a tourist potential and resources, as well as with issues of their structuring. As a basis, in the beginning of the article the classical definitions of a recreational potential and resources are presented; approaches to their structuring are mentioned. Then the definition of a tourist potential of a territory is determined as a space-time combination of natural, social and natural-social resources, reserves and opportunities that can be used for the organization and the implementation of tourist activity. The tourist potential is a subjective concept and can be viewed from the standpoints of tourists, businessmen and government/society. The purpose of activities in the field of tourism for each of the subjects is the attractions. An important role in the tourism is played by infrastructure which covers a part of social, natural and social spheres. The foundation of the tourist potential is a territory that serves as space and location. The result of the study was the expression of the essence of the concept "tourist potential" in the form of its structure scheme.