The Department of Geography, Ecology and Tourism was created on the initiative of Academician of the Russian Academy of Education A.P. Liferov in 1988 as the Department of Geography.
The following scientists contributed to the development of the department: A.P. Liferov, V.D. Voyloshnikov, N.A. Voyloshnikova, E.I. Chernobrovkina, L.A. Ruzhinskaya, I.Yu. Davydova, T.N. Abramova, I.A. Vorobyova, L.D. Krivtsova, K.I. Dagargulia, S.R. Podol, E.S. Ivanov, V.A. Markov, A.N. Varnakov, M.M. Komarov, E.I. Mishnina, G.G. Drozdova, N.S. Lukyanova and others.

The research work of the department focuses on physical geography and landscape science, geomorphology, ecology, nature management, economic, social and political geography, as well as development of the tourism and hospitality industry.

The high level of scientific research is confirmed by support from the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, the Russian Science Foundation, the presence of postgraduate studies in the specialty Geomorphology and paleogeography.

The department works together with the Youth Club of the Russian Geographical Society, volunteer squads "EcoTeam" and "Compass".