Rosturizm: Arctic tourism could be as profitable as oil
© RIA Novosti. Vladimir Pesnya

Rosturizm: Arctic tourism could be as profitable as oil

Arctic tourism in the Russian north could bring as much money as oil wells, Oleg Safonov, Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism, said during the conference on International Cooperation in the Arctic, held as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, TASS reports.

"Artic tourism should become a major industry in the economy of the Russian north. It could be comparable to oil drilling in terms of revenue," the agency head said.

Safonov noted that the Artic has great potential for the development and construction of new tourist facilities. In his opinion, the historical-cultural and natural-climatic peculiarities of this area are suitable for various tourist services.

The Arctic can offer tourists dog- and reindeer-sled riding, sport and extreme tourism, environmental tours and observing animals in their natural environment. Safonov thinks today's travelers might be interested in the traditional lifestyle, holidays and rituals of the indigenous peoples of the North.

Safonov said that the successful launch of the pilot program, tours to Franz Josef Land, indicates the potential for Arctic tourism. There is growing interest in this destination: over 790 tourists traveled to the archipelago in 2014; in 2015 there were some 1,300 tourists from 46 countries.

"This tour is very popular, even though it's somewhat expensive. We need to promote tourism in this area," the Rosturizm head said. Safonov added that the Arctic could accept some 80,000 tourists a year. However, to attain this goal, it is necessary to resolve a number of issues in transport and border-crossings.