PASSENGER AIR TRANSPORTATION AS A COMPONENT OF TOURISM MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Relevance of the study is driven by the growing role of passenger air transport in shaping tourist flows and the necessity for the tourism market to adapt to contemporary global, technological, and geopolitical challenges. The subject of the research is the economic and infrastructural interconnections between the passenger air transport market and the tourism sector, as well as their impact on the formation and dynamics of tourist flows. The aim of the study is to determine the role of passenger air transport in the development of the tourism market and to substantiate its significance as a strategic factor ensuring mobility, accessibility of tourist destinations, and growth of tourism activity. The methodological framework of the research is based on general scientific and specialized methods of inquiry, including analysis and synthesis, system and structural-functional approaches, comparative analysis, as well as the generalization of statistical and analytical data from international organizations and scientific publications. A comprehensive approach was employed, allowing passenger air transport and tourism to be considered as an interconnected socio-economic system. The results of the study indicate that the development of passenger air transport directly influences the scale of international and domestic tourism, the emergence of new tourist destinations, and the enhancement of destination competitiveness. The study substantiates the multiplicative effect of air transport, manifested in increased employment, investment activity, and revenues in related sectors of the tourism industry. The main groups of stakeholders and their potential impact on air transport and tourism were identified. A number of constraints and risks affecting the development of air transport were revealed, including infrastructural overloads, environmental regulations, fluctuations in aviation fuel prices, and geopolitical factors, which directly influence the resilience of the tourism market. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential use of the obtained results and conclusions to inform managerial decisions in the development of air transport and tourism. It is concluded that passenger air transport is a decisive factor in the dynamic and sustainable development of the tourism market, and its further evolution requires an integrated approach that considers economic, technological, and environmental challenges. Prospects for further research include examining the impact of environmental standards and safe technologies on the development of the passenger air transport and tourism markets, as well as the role of digital technologies in the activities of stakeholders in the tourism business.