The main goal of our research is to study the means to ensure sustainable development in the northern territories of the Russian Federation. Particular attention is paid to the integration of natural and recreational tourism in the structure of the economy of the northern regions of Russia. The article deals with the problem of integrated assessment of the social, ecological and economic systems of the North European part of Russia (ETR). Methodical approaches to the estimation of multifactor processes in natural and anthropogenic systems. For example, the northern regions of the European part of Russia are analyzed with respect to the modern structure of the economy and the state of tourism and recreation sector. It is shown that the successful development of Arctic tourism in the Nordic countries is the result of a balanced development of social, ecological and economic systems. Territorial Development Strategy of North European Russia should take into account the whole complex of ecological and socio-economic development parameters. Necessary compliance with environmental imperatives and the vision of real prospects of active introduction to the structure of the economy in the sphere of recreation and tourism are examined. The article also assesses the current state and development of the economy and the structure of tourist and recreational management of the northern regions we need to develop of models-classifications of integrated assessment of the social, ecological and economic systems. Refs 20. Figs 1. Tables 5.