The Tourist and Recreational Potential of Cross-Border Regions of Russia and Kazakhstan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Estimation of the Current State and Possible Risks

: The development of tourism is associated with numerous risks that have a direct and indirect impact on the realization of tourist and recreational potential. In recent years, in addition to internal risks, the importance of external environmental risks (geopolitical and epidemiological) has increased. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the foremost of these risks, and its effects on the development of regional tourism demands attention. The purpose of the study is to estimate the level of tourist and recreational potential of cross-border regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, and the possible risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the breakup of the USSR, one of the longest land borders in the world was established between Russia and Kazakhstan. The geographical scope of the study includes 12 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and 7 regions of Kazakhstan. Information posted on statistical portals, data from geographical atlases, and specialized websites of the executive authorities were used as the materials for the study. The tourist and recreational potential of the regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan was estimated by the scorecard method, with the assignment of weight coefﬁcients to indicators included in four main clusters: Natural Factors, Cultural and Historical Factors, Social and Economic Factors, and Infrastructure Support of Tourism. Additionally, the experience of studying risks associated with tourism development during the pandemic was summarized. The conclusions reached are indicative of different levels of tourism and recreational potential in cross-border regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, and the inconsistency of the industry’s structure. It was found that the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the number of risks for the realization of tourism and recreational potential, which must be taken into account when making management decisions. The authorities of cross-border regions can use the results of the research to adjust tourism policy under the current restrictions and increased global risks. The application of mechanisms and methods of territorial planning and management will depend on the level of tourism and recreational potential. For regions with high and above-average potential, the emphasis should be on participation in federal projects, the development of cluster initiatives, and the application of a diversiﬁcation strategy. Regions with medium and low potential should focus on the domestic tourist ﬂow, develop inter-regional cooperation, and focus on the strategy of gaining a competitive advantage.


Introduction
Many factors affect tourism development in the cross-border region of Russia and Kazakhstan (Mamraeva and Tashenova 2020).The fundamental condition for attracting tourists is the existing tourist potential of the territory.National and local authorities significantly affect the success of territorial tourism resource use.Tourism development in transboundary regions has positive and negative features: the attraction of tourists from neighboring countries, opportunities to sell tourist products in the international and domestic markets, and the need to form an information infrastructure, so it is important to consider that the type of borders may change.For example, because of the USSR's collapse in 1991, the regional borders between republics became national borders.This study considers the advantages of tourism industry development in the context of preserved ties between the authorities and the populations of cross-border regions.Russian tourists are also attracted by the fact that most of Kazakhstan's population speaks Russian.
The authors used modeling to study the region's potential tourism implementation to increase the certainty of actions (including by public authorities) (Ivanova et al. 2020;Volodin et al. 2019).In addition, the authors used various model types to assess the parameters of enterprises and to study the peculiarities of the development of different industries and individual economic processes (Rodionov et al. 2020;Boldyrev et al. 2019;Aletdinova and Bakaev 2019;Chernogorskiy et al. 2018).The use of modeling is necessary for forecasting crisis conditions (Borovkov et al. 2020;Toroptsev et al. 2019).Authors usually use models in the study of tourism types (Tanina et al. 2020) and tourism potential of a territory (Mamraeva and Tashenova 2020).
The activities of tourism organizations and developers in a territory are significantly affected by diverse types of risks.In addition to internal risks related to the activities of an enterprise or industry itself, the development of globalization has increased external risks to the environment, also affecting tourism (Nikolova et al. 2017;Lee et al. 2021a;Istiak 2021;Dimopoulos et al. 2021;Vidishcheva et al. 2020;Sikarwar 2021;Pérez-Rodríguez and Santana-Gallego 2020).The COVID-19 pandemic has proved that the impact of epidemiological risks at the global, national, and regional levels was previously underestimated.The pandemic has affected many economic indicators, including investment in certain regions and their attractiveness as tourist destinations (Rodionov et al. 2021).In fact, tourism has become one of the most affected industries.
This paper aims to assess the current tourism and recreational potential (TRP) of the cross-border regions of Russia and Kazakhstan, and the risks these regions faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.We will complete the following tasks: determine the value of TRP in the cross-border areas of Russia and Kazakhstan, construct a multilayer map based on the assessment results, and identify and analyze the risks of tourism development in the territories considered in the paper.

Literature Review
In this study, the authors considered the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in the cross-border regions of Kazakhstan and Russia.Studies of organizations operating in boundary zones are relatively rare (Shneider et al. 2020;Leukhina et al. 2020).
Cross-border tourism has the following features: -Forms a necessary part of the process of achieving sustainable development goals in the EU Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) model; -Contributes to the implementation of sustainable development goals to a greater extent than national tourism programs, which should be considered in the development of a destination; -Requires integrated management because cross-border regions have a more complex structure; -Has the ability to implement joint marketing strategies to increase tourist flow; -Primarily performs the integrative function of cultural tourism; -Includes unique types of tourism, such as smuggling tourism; -Has different degrees of tourist flow penetration into internal territories; -Should be ready to reorient activities to the domestic market in situations of significant reduction in tourist flow from abroad; -Has faster recovery time in the post-pandemic era than other tourism sectors.
Currently, there are few studies based on the use of simulation to estimate the impact of the pandemic on tourism in terms of the realization of an area's tourism potential.Most of the published works concern risk perception, changes in the behavior of tourists, or the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry of a particular area.Among the studies, the following models can be noted: collective risk (Chica et al. 2021), estimation of risks and vulnerability of the economy during COVID-19 (Arbulú et al. 2021), perception of health risks in tourism (Godovykh et al. 2021), perception of the COVID-19 risk when visiting national parks (Park et al. 2022), the relations between perceived risk and willingness to pay for additional safety measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Sánchez-Cañizares et al. 2021), the impact of COVID-19 on tourist behavior (Xu et al. 2021), predictors of perceived travel risks (Teeroovengadum et al. 2021), dependence of a company's value on information about the need for social distancing in the hospitality and tourism industry (Im et al. 2021), and changes in risk perception after the COVID-19 pandemic (Chan 2021).
Restrictions imposed due to a need to ensure further travel safety have raised the risks for tourism (Rudyanto et al. 2021;Ruiz-Sancho et al. 2021;Matiza and Slabbert 2022;Tseng et al. 2021;Cheng et al. 2022;Lee et al. 2021a;Łapko et al. 2021;Rather 2021).The tourist flow to almost all countries and regions has decreased, especially in areas with insufficiently realized tourism potential (Lee et al. 2021a;Wu 2021;Shahzad et al. 2022).However, in some areas, tourist flow has decreased to a lesser degree due to the influx of domestic tourists (Joo et al. 2021;Matiza and Slabbert 2022;Zhu and Deng 2020;Wang et al. 2021).That said, it is necessary to consider the behavior of local residents, who fear an increased risk of COVID-19 infection when tourists visit their destinations (Woosnam et al. 2021).The studies conducted show that the impact of the pandemic on tourism has been more destructive than that of previous, mainly economic, crises (Škare et al. 2021).To ensure the realization of the tourist potential of an area, state authorities need to take significant measures to increase tourist flows and to ensure the financial stability of tourism organizations (Villacé-Molinero et al. 2021;Grech et al. 2020;Chan 2021).

Materials and Methods
The methodology for estimating the tourism and recreational potential of the areas of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) and the Russian Federation (RF) includes 9 key stages: 1. Identification of clusters and estimation indicators.
-Cluster 1-Natural Factors (11): average temperature in January, -Cluster 4-Infrastructure Support of Tourism (10): number of exercise and sports facilities (including number of ski resorts, rowing clubs, sports arenas, etc.), units; number of primary wellness tourism facilities (sanatorium-and-spa resorts, specialized medical centers, etc.), units; number of five-star hotels, units; number of four-star hotels, units; number of three-star hotels, units; number of accommodations without category, as well as one-and two-star hotels, units; hotel room capacity, units; number of airports, units; number of tourism firms and tour operators, units; headcount of workers in the tourism sector, in thousands.
It should be noted that when calculating the TRP of RF regions bordering the Republic of Kazakhstan, an indicator such as 'Number of Monuments of Urban Planning and Architecture (of republican significance), units,' has not been used, because since 2013, they have not been accounted for under this approach; these sites are considered in the category 'Cultural Heritage Sites.'It should also be noted that the values for the parameter 'Number of Zoos' have been used without taking petting zoos into account.
2. Correlation of weight coefficients with TRP estimation indicators obtained on the basis of an expert estimation conducted by the authors (Mamraeva and Tashenova 2020) when developing the basic methodology underlying this paper.Experts in tourism and recreational geography, representatives of the tourism services market (travel agents and tour operators), and officials from government agencies served as experts.The parameters were estimated using a 5-point scale, where 1 was the minimum and 5 was the maximum score.
3. Calculation of the average country value (ACV) for each indicator, with the exception of the average temperature in January, the average temperature in July, the average annual precipitation, the period of seasonal snow cover, and the absolute elevation of the terrain relief.1).

Results
The following regions of the RF border with Kazakhstan were included in the study: Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Tyumen, Omsk, and the Novosibirsk Regions, as well as the Altai Territory and the Republic of Altai.
Table 2 gives a brief description of the regions in terms of tourist attractiveness ac- The results of the regions' potential tourism and recreational estimates are presented in a thematic cartogram.The cartogram shows the spatial distribution of territorial entities in Russia and Kazakhstan by volume of tourism and recreational potential.To create it, a specialized cartographic program-Q-GIS-was used.The Russia and Kazakhstan shp files served as a cartographic basis, and the EPSG:5940 projection was used.The results of the tourism and recreational potential estimation were converted from the xsl format to csv, which allowed them to be bound to spatial data from the shp file.Subsequently, the data analysis tool, as well as the style tool, was used to perform the zoning procedure with dasymetric differentiation.Elements of cartographic semiotics have been added to the resulting cartoid: a scale ruler, explanatory notes, and a schematic compass.

Results
The following regions of the RF border with Kazakhstan were included in the study: Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Tyumen, Omsk, and the Novosibirsk Regions, as well as the Altai Territory and the Republic of Altai.
Table 2 gives a brief description of the regions in terms of tourist attractiveness according to Russia Travel, a national tourist portal.

Astrakhan Region
This is a region with an ancient history, the center of many events reflected in the chronicles of Russia.The land is distinguished by its rich natural diversity, unique ethnic makeup, and cultural potential accumulated over centuries.The region's main city-Astrakhan-proudly bears the titles of Caspian Capital, Keeper of Living History, and Precious Pearl of the Lower Volga Region.

Volgograd Region
This is a land of natural beauty and national traditions.It is the homeland of Ataman Ermak Timofeevich, the conqueror of Siberia, and the popular rebels Stepan Razin and Kondraty Bulavin.It is a cradle of victory in the Great Patriotic War that preserves the memory of the fallen heroes in a mass grave on Mamayev Hill (Mamayev Kurgan).This is an area of archaeological monuments, including an ancient human encampment, Sarmatian villages, Savromat burial grounds, and Golden Horde cities.

Saratov Region
This region is the place of the first landing by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.Here, in a moderate continental steppe climate on the banks of the Volga River, Saratov has been standing for more than 400 years.Once a major merchant center in the country, today it is a city of a dozen museums.In the cultural capital of the Volga Region, one can see a unique collection of paintings, including canvases by Aivazovsky and Petrov-Vodkin, or a collection of samovars.Outside the regional capital is the House with a Lion-a unique open-air museum of ancient house paintings and thermal pools.

Samara Region
This region is located in the middle reaches of the Volga River.The regional capital boasts the longest river embankment in Russia and the tallest railway station building in Europe.Samara is also famous for producing the most popular beer in the country.The surrounding landscapes and the local way of life have inspired many famous Russian artists.One of the most picturesque and mystical places of the Samara region is the river bend, Samarskaya Luka.Here, one can see beavers, wild boar, elk, and foxes.

Orenburg Region
This region is located in the very south of Russia, near the border with Kazakhstan.Its outline on the map resembles a flying dragon.The Orenburg region is a land of endless steppes.Here, one can experience a true winter and legendary Russian frost, but travelers will not freeze in these lands: the Orenburg down shawl, a traditional souvenir of the region, will protect them from the cold.

Chelyabinsk Region
The locals like saying that the Chelyabinsk region is caressed by both subterranean and celestial deities.The famous Ural gems are mined in this region: underground treasures surrounded by fairy tales with which the entire population of the country is brought up.Most recently, in the capital of the region, hundreds of city cameras recorded the fall of a meteorite, which can now be seen in a museum.In addition to gems, there are modern ski resorts and national parks in the mountains of the Southern Urals.

Kurgan Region
This region is called the gateway of Siberia.The Baikal Federal Highway passes through its territory, as does the Trans-Siberian Railway.People come here for walking and educational, cycling, equestrian, automobile, snowmobile, and ski tourism.The Kurgan territory boasts more than a thousand sites included in the list of cultural and historical heritage of the RF.

Tyumen Region
This region is located in the southwestern part of the West Siberian Plain.It is where explorers started discovering new territories in the 16th century and where many travelers start getting acquainted with Siberia today.The only stone Kremlin in Siberia is located in Tobolsk.The region's wooden architectural monuments are diverse-here, one can see the Baroque embodied in wood.
Additional artifacts in the region include dinosaur skeletons and ancient human encampments.

Omsk Region
There are more than twenty hunting reserves in the territory of the Omsk region; this is a real paradise for fans of hunting and fishing.Devotees of history will be interested in ancient encampments and settlements, burial mounds, and iconic monuments.Historical sites include Chudskaya Gora, Batakovo Tract, and the mysterious energy village of Okunevo, with its system of five lakes, one of which is fictional.

Novosibirsk Region
The third largest city in Russia, Novosibirsk, is not a tourist center; as a rule, people come here on business.Nevertheless, the city, just like the region, has something to show its guests: the largest zoo in Russia, the scientific center of Akademgorodok (science campus), and a large number of museums and theaters.Ski resorts, Zveroboy Rocks, Barsukov Cave, Karachi Lake, nature reserves, and pine forests are great places for sports, walks, nature observations, and picking mushrooms and berries.

Republic of Altai
This is a land of mountains, the highest ridges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys.It is also a land of unique natural areas, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.The magnificent landscapes of the Altai peaks, with many beautiful mountain lakes and glaciers, attract travelers, scientists, climbers, writers, poets, artists, and photographers.

Altai Territory
Here all travelers will find something to their taste: ancient encampments and caves for archaeologists, Altai cheese and Altai honey for gourmands, the Yarovoye Lake and the Belokurikha resort for fans of retreat.For those looking for communion with nature, there are cozy campsites surrounded by snow-capped mountains, ancient pine trees, and clean taiga air.
Note-complied by the authors according to Russia Travel, a national tourist portal.
The Republic of Kazakhstan, in turn, borders the RF in the regions of West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan, and Atyrau.
Table 3 gives a closer look at each one.

Atyrau Region
This region was established in 1938; in the protected areas of the land there is a limestone plateau, which was once the bottom of an ancient ocean.The territory of the region is a semidesert and desert lying in the Caspian lowland plain.The region has a well-developed oil and gas industry.Some of the famous architectural monuments are mausoleums, such as Zhuban-Tam, made of mountain shell rock and crowned with a helmet-shaped dome, as well as Asaly-Koketai, a domed structure with an ornately shaped spire built in 1877.In this region, cultural, educational, water, beach, business, and event tourism have become popular.
Note-compiled by the authors according to tourist portal on VisitKazakhstan and data from tochka-na-karte.ru.
To calculate the TRP value of the border areas, the initial data presented in Appendix A (Table A1) and Appendix B (Table A2) were used in Steps 1-7, which are not presented in detail as this technique was previously developed, described in detail and tested by the authors of the article (Mamraeva and Tashenova 2020) as part of the scientific work "Methodological Tools for Assessing the Region's Tourist and Recreation Potential", in the context of which the authors do not consider it necessary to describe the intermediate step-by-step stages in detail in this scientific article as they consider the final calculation of the tourism and recreational potential of the cross-border regions of Russia and Kazakhstan to be more important.This article includes a link to a previously published paper using the author's methodology.
According to our calculations, the following regions have high tourism and recreational potential: Samara, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen, and the Altai Territory.Regions with above-medium potential in the Russian Federation are Volgograd, Saratov, Orenburg, Omsk, and Novosibirsk, while only East Kazakhstan has above-medium potential in the Republic of Kazakhstan.Regions of medium and low potential include Astrakhan, Kurgan, and the Altai Republic in the RF and West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, and North Kazakhstan in the RK.
The interpretation of the results presented in Figure 2 is reflected in Table 5.In the structure of the tourism and recreational potential of the Russian regions, the values of AMP (35.4%),MP (33.3%),HP (18.8%), and LP (12.5%) prevail.Social and Economic and Infrastructure Support of Tourism are the best-developed clusters.This is where the above-medium potential and medium potential estimations prevail.
As for the TRP levels of the Kazakhstan regions, the highest estimations are MP (42.9%) and LP (35.7%).Cultural and historical factors and natural factors are the best developed clusters in the structure of potential.A low level of social, economic, and infrastructural factors increases the risks of inefficient realization of tourism and recreational potential of the regions.
We have also summarized the studies of tourism-associated risks during the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain the following conclusions applicable at the global level: - The risks for the tourism industry during the pandemic were collective and depended on compliance with safety recommendations by residents and visitors of certain regions.-Risks of economic losses in tourism arose regardless of the severity of quarantine restrictions.With strong isolation of the area due to a drop in the tourist flow, there was a threat of tourist organization closures, job losses, a reduction or complete loss of income, and a decrease in tax receipts.With weak isolation of the region, there was risk of infection for the local population and a risk of income decline for the economy.
It is necessary to find a balance between safety requirements during a pandemic and the risk of economic losses.Under these conditions, the support of federal, republican, and regional authorities to organizations of the industries affected by COVID-19 is crucial.

-
The authorities should consider the impact of the pandemic not only in light of the risk to the economy but also in light of the risk to the social and environmental spheres.
The pandemic has shown that the authorities must be ready not only to respond quickly to the need to ensure the safety of tourists and local residents but also to mitigate the risks in the social and environmental spheres.- The behavior of tourists and the generation of tourist flow are influenced not only by actual risks but also by potential exposure to risks when visiting a certain region.
The perception of risk can negatively affect an area's image and make it difficult to realize the tourist potential of the region.In this situation, the importance of informing tourists about safety measures to minimize the risk of visiting the region increases.- The pandemic has increased the number of tourism-associated risks and has shown a need for each person (tourists and personnel of travel companies) to comply with safety requirements (social distancing, use of disinfectants, use of masks, etc.).Before the pandemic, safety in tourism had been provided mainly by organizations of the tourism industry and tourist infrastructure.During the pandemic, travel safety became a problem not only for the tourism industry but also for every tourist and the authorities of the region.However, some destinations and types of tourism (ecological, rural tourism, etc.), as well as remote tourist areas, have experienced increased demand due to the opportunity to leave large cities with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection.

An important aspect of tourism development in the cross-border regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation is the consideration and prevention of the following risks:
1.
The existing restrictions regarding the use of Visa and MasterCard payment systems will make it difficult to pay for services related to accommodations, food, housing, and transport; it should also be noted that when planning tourist trips, residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan may face a shortage of rubles in second-tier banks and be unable to use Visa or MasterCard, which may lead to reduced consumption of tourist products, as well as to changes in the timing of travel due to the need to search for convenient payment methods.This situation should improve once credit cards become valid in RF territory (for example, the Mir system).

2.
The inability to book hotels via the Booking.comonline platform creates limitations and difficulties in the planning process and the generation of optimal tourist products.It also increases the amount of time that potential tourists spend searching for suitable facilities and accommodations.

3.
Changes in natural and climatic conditions may have an adverse impact on average annual precipitation, the period of seasonal snow cover, and the time period that determines snowmelt, which in turn can lead to intensive flooding of natural tourist areas during spring floods, for example.

4.
The shallowing and overgrowth of small lakes (medium and large) that have not been taken into account in the TRP assessment can lead to a reduction in tourist flows in beach tourism development within certain areas.These trends have been observed in a mild form at Sabandykol Lake in Bayanaul State National Natural Park of the Pavlodar Region, North Kazakhstan; at the Sol-Iletsky Lakes in the Orenburg Region; and at Yarovoye Lake in Altai Territory.

5.
The weathering of rocks in the areas of tourist destinations, which can lead to destruction of places of interest.

6.
The destruction and deterioration of tourism infrastructure and noncompliance with international standards.

7.
A low flow capacity in tourist areas, which can potentially lead to over-tourism in the case of an "influx" of incoming tourists, especially during a peak season.Such a situation has been observed for the last five years in Bayanaul National Natural Park and Alakol Lake, located on the Balkhash-Alakol Lowland (on the border of the Almaty and East Kazakhstan regions), and in the territories of Biryuzovaya Katun SEZ in Altai Territory.

Discussion
Studies show that the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most catastrophic events for tourism.The globalization of tourism has started to be considered not only as an advantage but also as a problem due to the significant risk of disease spread within tourist flows.The example of countries and regions actively developing inbound tourism, and therefore most affected due to coronavirus restrictions, clearly shows a need to pay greater attention to all types of risks in tourism.We highlight the main debatable issues based on the results of the research.

1.
Conventionally, the major risks associated with tourism are economic.The consequences of the pandemic, however, have shown that health risks are also a problem, and have pointed out the need to ensure increased safety for tourists and the local population in order to preserve lives and health.However, there are still no data in the statistical indicators that allow assessment of the impact of the risk of COVID-19 on the development of tourism in cross-border territories.This is due to a lack of data on the movement of tourists after they cross the border, and the lack of a selective study of the purposes for visiting the country.The most accurate information on the movement of tourists is currently provided by mobile operators, but such information is expensive and not available to individual researchers.The solution to the problem of tracking the movement of tourists could be, for example, the use of a "tourist passport".In this document, the tourist could receive marks at certain destinations, which would allow him to receive discounts and/or souvenirs.A tourist passport has been implemented in a number of destinations and routes in Russia.

2.
Restrictions on tourist flows have led not only to economic consequences (a decrease in revenue, investments, and tourism wages) but also to a reinterpretation of the role individual entities play in the generation of tourist flows.Long-term pandemic restrictions have required state support, primarily financial and tax support, to prevent the bankruptcy of tourism enterprises.As part of another study we conducted, we looked at the impact of digital solutions on tourism support by state authorities.This study showed that the efficiency of tourism recovery in the border regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan depends on the completeness and relevance of state information support measures.It should be noted that state support measures (at the federal and regional levels) did not appear immediately.The tourism industry was left to fend for itself with a catastrophic decline in tourist traffic due to border closures during the first few months of the pandemic.In our opinion, it is necessary to foresee possible scenarios for supporting tourism in advance, taking into account the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

3.
Significant growth in industry digitalization is another consequence of the pandemic.
There are no indicators in the official statistics of either country that reflect the level of digital technology application in tourism.Nevertheless, this factor has a significant impact on the possibility of realizing the region's tourist potential.This trend has led to a reduction in the revenue of tour operators and travel agents, but allowed tourist service providers to maintain their level of revenue and reduce the drop in tourist flow in the regions.The pandemic has shown that, despite restrictions, the demand for travel has continued.A rapidly changing situation with the introduction of restrictive measures and the COVID-19 infection rate has led to reduced booking depth when buying tourist products, and the growing popularity of last-minute tours.
Under these conditions, official information on pandemic restrictions has come into sharp focus.
A pent-up demand has been primarily satisfied in areas where coronavirus restrictions were first lifted (even partially).The example of the tourist flow volume in Turkey after a number of restrictions had been lifted shows the significance of coordination between state authorities, tourism industry organizations, and tourism infrastructure to reduce risks and ensure a safe holiday for tourists.However, these measures should be global or at least coordinated by the authorities of the countries and/or regions with the greatest mutual tourist flows, since the removal of exit restrictions may be offset by remaining entry restrictions.The use of digital technologies in the context of limited social contact has made it possible to rebuild the mechanisms of interaction between tourism organizations and customers.In the context of the removal of coronavirus restrictions, the vast majority of travel agencies used digital technologies as intensively as they had done during the pandemic.It can be said that COVID-19 elicited an active interest in digital services, even among organizations that were not planning to digitize.4.
More than thirty years since the breakup of the USSR and the transformation of the regions in question into border regions, a number of them have taken advantage of their cross-border position in terms of tourism development.The results of the research clearly show that not all regions have been able to realize their potential to the same extent.Reduced transportation costs when visiting neighboring regions (including those in another country) ceased to be a competitive advantage during the pandemic.The popularity of a particular tourist destination during the pandemic has fueled the safety concerns of a number of tourists and increased the risk of a refusal to travel.
Most regions of the Russian Federation located on the border with Kazakhstan belong to the 'semi-periphery' of tourism and recreational potential.Remoteness from the main centers of demand generation (Moscow and St. Petersburg) negatively impacts the realization of the tourist and recreational potential of these regions, which, however, is somewhat compensated for by good transport accessibility and a relatively high level of tourist infrastructure development.In turn, cross-border regions of Kazakhstan are also 'semi-peripheral' regions that, despite the existing tourism and recreational potential, cannot adequately compensate for the negative factors of remoteness and the currently insufficient development of tourism infrastructure.These regions can be invited to consider the possibility of using the EU Cross-Border Cooperation Program to form an integrated plan for the development of cross-border territories.

Conclusions
Given the relatively high tourism and recreational potential of the regions of the Russian Federation and the large capacity of the domestic tourism market, the magnitude of the risks from the influence of global factors is lower on the Russian side of the border than on the Kazakhstan side.However, the cross-border location of the regions has significantly increased the risks due to the closure of borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.The introduction of restrictions has led to a decrease in tourist flow and a decrease in the overall efficiency of the implementation of the tourism and recreational potential of crossborder regions.In the context of growing global risks, the general recommendation for the executive authorities of cross-border regions is to search for new markets within the country and change marketing policies.
In addition, we believe that the strategies and mechanisms for overcoming the crisis will depend on the level of regional tourism and recreational potential.Based on the results of the research, for regions with high potential (Samara, Chelyabinsk, the Tyumen region with autonomous Okrug, and Altai Territory) and above-average potential (Volgograd, Saratov, Orenburg, Omsk, and Novosibirsk), the main mechanism for increasing the efficiency of tourism development is to participate in the national project titled "Tourism and Hospitality Industry."Given the diversity of forms of tourism potential, we recommend choosing a strategy for diversifying tourism activities based on the cluster mechanism.
Regions with medium (Astrakhan and Kurgan) and low potential (Republic of Altai) should be oriented toward the domestic tourist flow, applying the strategy of specialization, and gaining a competitive advantage in the most promising market niche.The efforts of executive authorities should be directed toward the implementation of regional tourism development programs and support for small-and medium-sized businesses.To increase competitiveness, we recommend developing interregional cooperation, which contributes to the formation of a synergistic effect, and an increase in the efficiency of potential realization.
The results of the assessment of the TRP in the regions of Kazakhstan that border Russia confirm the need to improve state policy in the field of regional tourism management, in particular to develop a mechanism for responding to emerging global and local risks.For regions with relatively low potential in terms of tourism infrastructure and socio-economic conditions (West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, and North Kazakhstan), it is necessary to increase entrepreneurial activity by creating acceptable economic conditions and minimizing entry barriers to the tourism market for small-and medium-sized businesses (expansion of the trading network, construction of new hotels and catering facilities, etc.).These activities will increase investment and, as a result, the attractiveness of these regions as tourist destinations, especially since the natural and cultural-historical sub-potentials of the marked areas are rated as average and above average.The use of a follow-the-leader strategy is recommended.
Regions with average tourist potential (Kostanay, Pavlodar, Atyrau) and aboveaverage potential (East Kazakhstan) should focus not only on the development of domestic but also on inbound tourism, mainly increasing throughput from cross-border regions.These areas, taking into account the level of tourism infrastructure development and the presence of a variety of natural, cultural, and historical sites, should apply a strategy for diversifying tourism products, as well as a strategy for intensifying commercial efforts, developing a regional tourist brand, and a strong advertising campaign to promote regional tourism.
With regard to the limitations of the study, we note that there is some dependence on the availability and accessibility of certain statistical information, as well as on the choice of parameters and assessment indicators in the methodology developed by the authors.Despite this, future studies could continue to examine the tourism and recreational potential of other regions of the analyzed countries.Further studies could also be directed toward the research and development of competitive regional tourism products.
The results of the research showed that the tourism and recreational potential of the cross-border regions of Russia is mainly estimated at above-average and average levels, while for the corresponding regions of Kazakhstan it is estimated at an average level.At the same time, the existing limitations indicated by the factors and parameters included in the analysis should be taken into account.In general, it is important to note that the methodology presented for assessing TRP is adaptive and allows for comprehensive research.Consequently, it determines directions for improving the infrastructure and socioeconomic security of tourism, and helps develop competitive tourism products, depending on the availability of natural and cultural resources.
It should also be noted that the authors' future research will also be related to the study of the specifics of risk assessment in tourism.Note-compiled according to data from the following sources:

4 . 5 .
Attainment of relative values by dividing the indicator's initial value in the context of previously identified clusters by ACV.Assignment of 0.1 and 2 to the obtained relative value based on the TRP estimation indicator system (Tourist and Recreation Potential) estimation indicators (Table

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Methodology for Estimating the Regions' TRP.Note-compiled by the authors.

Table 1 .
System of TRP Area Estimation Indicators *.

Table 2 .
Brief description of the RF's regions in terms of tourism attractiveness.

Table 3 .
Brief description of the Republic of Kazakhstan's regions in terms of tourism attractiveness.This region was established on 10 March 1932.It is located in the northwestern part of the country and shares borders with five regions of the Russian Federation(Orenburg, Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, and  Samara).Flat terrain prevails throughout the area.The highest point is Ichka Mountain.There are approximately 200 rivers in the West Kazakhstan region, the three largest being the Ural, the Derkul, and the Chagan.In addition, there are 144 lakes in the region.Chalkar and Rybny Sacryl are among the largest.Cultural, educational, and religious tourism, and tourism for children and young people, are well-developed in the region.This region is located in the western part of the republic and was also established on 10 March 1932.All the rivers flowing through its territory belong to the Caspian Sea basin; the largest of them are the Emba, Or, Ilek, Irgiz, and Turgay.There are more than 150 lakes in the area.One of the most famous tourist sites is the Abat-Baytak sculptural monument dating back to the beginning of the 13th century.Scientists believe that it was erected during the emergence of the Golden Horde.No less famous are the Koblandy Batyr Mausoleum and the Museum of Local Lore.Cultural, educational, medical, geological, ecological, and event tourism are actively developed in the region.The Turgai Hollow crosses the territory of the Kostanay region from north to south.In the central part of the Turgai Plateau, Sypsynagash Hollow runs from west to east.In the west is Mount Zhitikara; on the Torgai Plateau are the Kargaly, Zhylandy, Kyzbel, and Teke Mountains; at the eastern foot are the Kyzbel and Kyzemshekshoky mountains; and in the southeast are the Hill of Zhylanshykturme and Mount Kayyndyshoky.The Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, the Naurzum State Nature Reserve, and the Mikhailovsky and Tounsorsky State Nature Reserves are located in the region.The region has the potential for the development of cultural, educational, and nature tourism.This region is located in the northern part of the republic.It was established in 1936.The territory of the region covers 98,000 sq km, and the population is 563,300.The northern half of the territory is represented by the Esil Plain and the southern half by the Kokshetau Upland with the Zhaksy Zhangyztau, Imantau, and Ayyrtau mountains.The most popular sites of the region are Mamlyutsky, Smirnovsky, and Orlinogorsky State Natural Reserves, the State Natural Monuments of Zhanazhol, Serebryanyy Bor, Sosnovy Bor, and Sopka Orlinaya Gora, as well as a spring.Cultural, educational, gastronomic, and active tourism are well-developed in the region (there is a sports arena, a tennis center, swimming pools, fitness clubs, the Kulager racetrack, lakes, sports and recreational complexes, a rope park, as well as a ski complex with a ropeway).Ecological and social tourism and tourism for children and youth hold promise for development.
Kostanay RegionThis region, located in the north of the republic, was established in 1936 (the territory consists of 196,000 sq km with a population of 879,100).The region has relatively flat terrain.The northern part consists of the southeastern edge of the West Siberian Lowland, and to the south of it is the Turgai Plateau.In the west of the region is the undulating plain of the Trans-Ural Plateau, and in the southeast, the spurs of Sary-Arka.

Table 3 .
Cont.It was established in 1938 and is located in the north-eastern part of Kazakhstan.The total area of the territory is 124,800 sq km, and the population is 757,000.The region features a plain landscape.The right bank of the Irtysh River is located on the Barabinsk Lowland and the Kulyndyn Plain; the left bank is on the Irtysh Plain; and the southwestern part of the region is home to the hilly area of Sary-Arka, where the Bayanaul, Kyzyltau, Zeltau and other mountains stand out.In the region, there is the Bayanaul SNNP (State National Natural Park), as well as the Yertys-Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve, the Kyzyltau State Nature Reserves, and the floodplain of the Irtysh River.Sports (mainly hiking), water sports, and educational tourism are developed in the region.The region has huge potential for the development of ecological, ornithological, mining, and mineralogical tourism.This region, established in 1932, is located in the territory of East Kazakhstan (283,200 sq km and population of 1,389,600).Mountainous and hillocky relief, as well as highly rugged terrain characteristics, are typical for a significant part of the region's territory.In the east are the ridges of the Rudny Altai: Ivanovsky, Korzhinsky, Koksusky, Tigretsky, Ulbinsky, and Obninsky.The ridges of the Southern Altai are Katunsky, Southern Altai, and Sarymsakty, and farther south one will find the Kalbinsky Ridge, the Zaisan Basin, and the Tarbagatai Ridges.The western part of the region is represented by the hillocky area of eastern Sary-Arka with the mountains of Hanshyngys, Shyngystau, and Akshatau.Also found in the region are the West Altai and Markakol State Nature Reserves; the Katon-Karagai SNNP; the Semey Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve; Kuludzhunsky, Tarbagataysky, and Nizhne-Turgusunsky State Nature Reserves; the Karatalskiye Peski State Nature Reserve; the Sinegorskaya Pikhtovaya Roshcha State Natural Monument; and the Altai Botanical Garden.Various types of tourism are well-developed in the territory of the East Kazakhstan Region, including rural, beach, water, winter, primary wellness (there are 19 medical centers practicing treatment with specialized facilities), cultural, educational, ecological, sports, and mountain.

Table 5 .
TRP levels of cross-border areas of the RF and RK (Steps 8-9).
Note-compiled based on the results of calculations.
8.Existing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including mandatory PCR tests when crossing the border (by air transport), masking, registration in the COVID-19 Free Travel Program, and participation in state programs for scanning QR codes for admission to restaurants and entertainment facilities.It should be noted that due to improvements in the epidemiological situation, on 11 March 2022, the Kazakhstan Interdepartmental Commission on Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Infection decided to cancel mandatory masking outdoors, as well as the use of the Ashyq mobile application (only for regions located in the 'yellow' and 'green' zones).

Table A1 .
Cont.Since 2013, the list has not been maintained in the Russian Federation; they are included in the category of Cultural Heritage Sites