Next summer, the southern cluster of Russian Arctic National Park will get a nature trail for tourists on Cape Zhelaniya on Severny Island of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago. The project will be financed by a Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) grant.

Apart from building nature trails, experts will assess and monitor the anthropogenic impact of tourists on the environment. In 2021, a new visitor center will open on Cape Zhelaniya. Its work will help estimate the carrying capacity so as to better manage tourism in the southern cluster.

“We have received many requests to plot new tourist routes and create a barrier-free tourist environment. There are many interesting systemic projects that will effectively change the image of the Russian tourist industry and make tourism more affordable, more diverse and safer,” said Zarina Doguzova, head of Rostourism.

The federal Government has set aside 1.2 billion rubles for implementing the new tourism support measure. The average requested grant is 2.6 million. Under the tender’s terms, the winning bidder should invest their own funds totaling at least 30 percent of the grant.