In the article, we investigated the possibilities of applying a cluster approach as a tool for the enhancement of regional economic development, including the tourist sphere. Theoretical study of the concept of cluster organization of the economy allowed us to determine the organizational and economic signs of the cluster, on the basis of which we have formed the main characteristics of the cluster model in the field of tourism and allocated the principles for the formation of tourist clusters. The characteristics of the cluster model in the tourism area include the basis of the process of providing the service - the consumer and its needs; internal orientation of the tourist cluster; Accounting for the geographical characteristics of the area, resource support, spatial organization and territorial location, as well as a complex of strategies for the development of tourist business, its infrastructure environment. We attributed to the principles of the formation of tourist clusters: the generality of the interests of the participants, the convenient location of the participants for regular contacts and the relationship and interdependence between the formal and informal relations of the participants. The strategic goals of the tourist cluster have been developed for which the core of the cluster was allocated - tourist enterprises, organizations, the company engaged in the production and promotion of the product, which is formed in the field of tourism; the elements of the interaction of entities of entrepreneurial activities, which take forms of competitive, cooperation, affiliate and network interaction; constructs are defined in tourism, recreational resources play the role of complementary constructs, and related constructs - the presence of which in tourist activity is associated with the complexity of the service provided, however, for the functioning of other cluster objects, they are not mandatory. These include various enterprises providing services for service and consulting, financial nature. Key words: cluster, region, tourism, development, competitiveness.