On the issue of the development of religious tourism in the Republic of Dagestan

Aim. The article deals with the development of religious tourism in the Republic of Dagestan as excursions, educational and religious studies and pilgrimage tours. Discussion. The recreational potential of the republic includes numerous places of worship, monuments of spiritual culture and cultural and historical complexes, favourable natural and climatic conditions, the warm Caspian Sea and sandy beaches and unique natural objects, such as the Sulak Canyon, the Sary‐Kum dune, the Saltinsky underground waterfall, the Samur forest, the Tobotsky waterfall, majestic mountains, which have attracted a large number of guests to Dagestan in recent years. During 2022, more than one and a half million people visited the republic, while the population in the republic itself is three million. In view of the fact that paganism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity were practiced on the territory of modern Dagestan before the spread of Islam, cult objects associated with these religions have been preserved. Of course, the largest group of places of worship is associated with Islam. Conclusion. The presence in Dagestan of shrines associated not only with Islam, but also with Christianity, makes it possible to develop religious tourism in the republic not only in the form of excursions and educational and religious studies, but also pilgrimage tours for believing citizens of the country, which will undoubtedly contribute to the education of religious tolerance and mutual understanding of representatives of different religions.