Attention to the problems of socio-economic development of rural areas by the official authorities, economists and the scientific community was mainly theoretical, sometimes point-practical. At the same time, rural poverty and high unemployment, the deterioration of the demographic situation, the reduction of the network of social infrastructure institutions in rural areas, which in combination has a negative impact on the reproduction of labor resources, a decrease in production, a high level of migration, have always been the problems of rural development in the country. In general, the sustainable development of rural areas is characterized, on the one hand, by external, the most important natural resource constraints that form a long-term perspective, and on the other — determine the possibility of socio-economic development of rural communities, economic entities, diversification of the economy of the territory, the formation of new activities, environmental management. This is a very wide range of problems, which in Russia and in a number of countries around the world is currently being considered from different positions. The article deals with the problems of economic development of rural areas as the main factor of their sustainable development in the agricultural regions of Russia. The main resources of development of rural areas of the region are defined. The characteristic of clusters of agribusiness and tourism industry is given. It shows their points of growth, the channels of products realization of the cluster, the development of tourism and recreation.