Abstract: This study discusses methodological issues for evaluating the cultural and historical potential and possibilities of its application in development of the tourist industry in Republic of Tatarstan. Need for study historical and culture heritage explained by its importance in the overall structure of recreation and tourism. He advocates a kind of foundation on which are formed and implemented a variety of tourism activities. The study should be comprehensive, given its multifunctional structure including natural, cultural, historical and socio-economic components. It is particularly important to identify the most attractive tourism destinations which can organize a variety of leisure activities, the most complete implementation of the recreational needs. Very important in the structure of the recreational potential of the destinations are cultural, historical and socio-economic components. Cultural-historical component includes variety of functions: cognitive, educational, economic, emphasizing their considerable importance in recreational sector. In this study, we used a territorial (allows to take into account the spatial differentiation of landscape diversity, richness recreation facilities), target (determining the most effective use of the recreational potential of the destinations, in the assessment of the functioning of the whole complex of factors from the standpoint of possible objectives and priorities for its future development), typological (regional groupings, typology, classification), historical (used to study the development of this industry, the nature of the recreational potential of the destinations, identifying problems using it) approaches.