The paper is devoted to the development of the tourism cluster "Kuzbass". The purpose of the paper is to characterize the "cluster initiative" content and its role in the implementation of the diversification policy of the economy of a 'resource type' region. The methodology of the paper is based on the use of tools and models of comparative institutional analysis and the theory of clusters. The paper highlights the alternatives of the 'resource type' regions development in contemporary Russia,

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... i.e. 'enclave dual economy' and 'integrated regional economy'. The necessity of the transfer of these regions on the trajectory of 'integral development' is grounded. It is shown that the implementation of such strategy includes the measures to diversify the regional economy with expanding the range of competitive sectors on the national and global markets as an integral component. The search for the potential new 'growth poles' in the 'resource type' regions became a top priority for the regional and federal authorities. For Kemerovo region economy tourism is such a potential 'growth pole'. However, the realization of this potential requires the regional authorities to develop and implement the special incentives in the form of the tourist industry 'cluster initiative'. It is substantiated that the optimal strategy is the development of the tourism cluster "Kuzbass" as a complex structure consisting of four subclusters. This strategy would provide a comprehensive development of the sector by focusing on the four subclusters on different segments of the tourist services market.