Kalmykia has a tourism potential that until now remained unrequited in full scale. Historical and cultural heritage of the Kalmyk people, ancient national traditions, folk crafts, all these factors favor to such varieties of tourism as business, cultural cognitive, ecological, equestrian, sport and other tourisms.

Kalmykia can expose unique natural monuments, reserve locations, rich flora and rare birds. It is the route of the Great Silk Road, dwelling of Khazars, place of the Golden Horde cities and remains of Sarai Berke, the second capital of the Golden Horde. The great Historical Crossroads, the center of the Eurasian continent is located here.

Advantageous geographical location of the republic is favorable to the development of tourism. The climate of the republic is continental with a moderate little snowy winter and hot summers. The bathing season starts on many water reservoirs already in May.

The most treasured and protected object is the biosphere reserve "Black lands" situated in the territory of Chernozemelsky and Yashkul regions.

Apart from the reserve there are 14 fauna reserves in Kalmykia. The largest federal fauna reserves are Sarpinsky, Kharbinsky and Mekletinsky, they are oriented mostly to the preservation of saiga antelopes.

These areas occupy over 20% of the republic's territory.

In the recent decade a large number of khuruls (temples) and churches was built and reconstructed, the look of the capital, Elista, changed advantageously. Following the ethnic traditions many new buildings, leisure, trade, catering structures were built.

In November 2001 Elista airport received the status of international airport. Now Kalmykia has one of the best aviation complexes in the South of Russia. The 3 kilometer long runway can accept heavy and large-capacity passenger and cargo airplanes.

One of the features of the Kalmyk tourist product is its exotic character connected with the unique natural conditions, specific ethnography and cultural environment of the republic. In view of the environmentalist concerns a new form of tourism, ecological tourism is becoming more and more popular.

The ministry of youth affairs, tourism and sports of the Republic of Kalmykia is the executive authority in the sphere of tourism. From 1997 to 2002 the ministry was authorized to license international tourist activities.

In April 2000 finished the first stage of the realization of the state policy in the field of management of the tourism activity in the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia. This step stipulated the creation of the legal normative basis conforming to the Law of the Republic of Kalmykia "On tourism activities in the Republic of Kalmykia ", 13.04.2000, #57-II-Ç. The law focused on the creation of favorable conditions for the development of tourism in the republic of Kalmykia, provision of state guarantees for the level of qualification of specialists and safety.

The second stage of the realization of the state policy in the field of management of the tourism activity in the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia began in the second quarter 2000. It stipulates the realization of economically grounded investment projects. The demand of the tourist market now determines the development of internal tourism oriented to the introduction of tours and routes directly in the territory of Kalmykia. It is impossible to realize without a well-designed republic's policy in the field of the tourist activities.

Investment projects for the construction of tourist infrastructure in the Republic of Kalmykia are included into the federal targeted program "South of Russia".

To secure attraction of non-budget sources of financing in 2002 and following years the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Tourism and Sport initiated the development of the national tourist complex "Jangarland" and the consequent creation of the legal entity, managing company, for the realization of the program measures, including the construction of "Jangarland".

One of the ways to integrate the tourist product of the Republic of Kalmykia into the tourism industry of the Southern Federal District is the elaboration of route "Steppe ring - Silk road" which can combine the tourist routes of all the regions of the district. An important significance in the formation of tourist routes will belong to the results of the international scientific expedition "On the path of the Great Silk Road" of Fedor Konyukhov.