Deputy Far East and Arctic development minister speaks on Russian Arctic tourism projects
© Russian Arctic National Park press service

Deputy Far East and Arctic development minister speaks on Russian Arctic tourism projects

Six private investors will pump over 13 billion rubles into tourist projects in the Arctic. 

“There are six investors who will be implementing investment projects related to the development of tourism in the Arctic zone, providing over 13 billion rubles in private investment,” First Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Alexander Krutikov said at the Arctic: Today and the Future international forum. 

According to Krutikov, in addition to the six investment projects, there are 36 more projects related to tourism development. “Some are preparing to receive resident status – these are tourist bases, hotels and camping sites. The 42 projects comprise 18 percent of the portfolio of new investment projects that formed after the adoption of the law to support business in the Arctic,” Krutikov said. 

He also added that the Arctic Hectare program to provide free land plots will be highly popular for tourism development in the region. 

“The hectare program will be launched in the Arctic next year. People will be able to receive land plots for free and in a short time frame. As our experience in the Far East shows, this service is very popular for tourism development. I am sure that, given the feedback that we are receiving on this initiative, it will be very popular for the purposes of tourism development in the Arctic,” Krutikov said.  

The service to provide land plots in the Russian Arctic zone will be launched on June 1, 2021.

According to Krutikov, the first results of the program will be apparent in a year’s time. 

“We will see that people take land to open camping sites, tourist bases, everything that can attract tourists,” he said. 

Local residents will be eligible to receive land plots in the first six months after the law comes into force in the Arctic, after which the program will open to all Russians, as well as participants in the state program to assist the voluntary relocation of compatriots living abroad.  

Land plots of up to one hectare will be available free of charge for five years, and then holders can register as owners or set up long-term leases. People will be able to use the land to build houses or do business, such as creating allotments and providing various services, including tourist ones.