An international checkpoint for tourists is scheduled to open at the Murmansk seaport in 2018, Murmansk Region Governor Marina Kovtun told the TASS news agency.

This year, we have opened a marine terminal, and we have already made a bid to become a major point on cruise liner routes, starting, I believe, in 2018, Kovtun said. An international checkpoint will start operating here in 2018, she said at a working meeting to promote Arctic cruises during the 5^th Murmansk International Business Week, sponsored by the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism).

Arctic cruises are closely linked with the Murmansk Region. Cruise liners sail for the North Pole from Murmansk, Kovtun noted. As of 2016, port authorities provide more lenient visa regulations for foreign tourists arriving here aboard ferries. The Murmansk Region focuses on exclusive and elite tourism, she added.

On November 16-17, Murmansk is hosting the Made in the Arctic tourist venue, with the support of Rostourism. The venue is intended to help pool the efforts of regional authorities and travel agencies in attracting more tourists. Its program includes tourism-promotion seminars, a local cuisine exhibition where people can partake of various dishes, a plenary meeting and more.

In January 2015, local authorities finished renovating the marine terminal's ocean-liner pier and installed bank-protection structures at the seaport's passenger section for accommodating modern ocean-going ferries and cruise liners. The marine terminal building was completely renovated this year. Work is now underway to build the border checkpoint's passenger section. There are plans to equip the Murmansk marine terminal's checkpoint with databases, and technical and communications systems before late 2018. This will allow foreign citizens to cross the Russian border more quickly.