Defense facilities in the Arctic Region can be used for developing the transport system and tourism, Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Oleg Safonov said during an offsite meeting of the State Commission for Arctic Development in Sochi, RIA Novosti reported.

According to Safonov, the Arctic region enjoys a huge tourist potential but its geographical distance and poor infrastructure stand in the way.

"I would like to ask to consider the resources of the military infrastructure that is being built in the Arctic region for civil purposes as well," the head of the agency said, addressing Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. He noted that he was referring to the opportunity to use the runway being constructed on Alexandra Land island (Franz Josef Archipelago) for civil flights.