Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has approved a cruise tourism development concept for the period to 2024, which stipulates the improvement of cruise tourism infrastructure and state support for the companies involved.

According to a press release, plans include the expansion of the network of cruises, including in the Arctic, Siberia and the Far East, the creation of new tours that will take tourists to specially protected nature areas, and the development of cruise destinations that will be of interest to both adults and children.

College and university students who are planning to work in the cruise industry will be offered onsite training at the leading cruise companies. The Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) is to prepare the action plan by July 1, 2022.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko called for consideration to be given to cruise shipping in the Far East and the Arctic and for support for companies modernising cruise ships. The government believes that cruise tourism can increase domestic and inbound tourism in these regions even despite the short period of navigation, which lasts from May to October.