The Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic has suggested that the website created with the support of Rostourism (Federal Agency for Tourism) to promote Arctic tourism should be included in a relevant national project.

Earlier, the ministry launched, with Rostourism’s support, a separate platform within the Arctic-Russia.ru website, aimed at promoting tourism in the Russian Arctic and developing business in this sphere.

“We intend to further develop this service in order to broaden our target audience as much as possible. We have provided for the relevant resources and I hope this service will be much in demand. I would suggest that the Head of Rostourism consider making it part of the national project on the Arctic,” said First Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Artic Alexander Krutikov at the forum Arctic and Antarctic Days in Moscow.

He specified that using this service, any tourist operator that works in the Arctic and offers Arctic tours can consult professionals that market tourist products free of charge. He said they can help tourist operators to compile and present these products properly.

Krutikov noted that at present the website targets Russian tourists but there are plans to attract a foreign audience as well. 

“Now, of course, the service appeals to potential Russian tourists but we will certainly reach out to a foreign audience once the current epidemiological restrictions are lifted,” Krutikov said.He added that Arctic tourism is given priority in the program that is currently being drafted.

“We have discussed tourism in the Arctic several times and Rostourism has supported and started to implement all of our initiatives and proposals,” he noted.

As early as in July, at a meeting of the Presidential Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko suggested including tourism in a list of national projects. Rostourism Head Zarina Doguzova said that the drafting of the national project “Tourism and the Hospitality Industry” may be completed before the end of this year. She said the project would make it possible to establish world level resorts in Russia and would make the country interesting, comfortable and appealing not only to Russians but also to the most discerning foreign travelers.