Tourism and recreation

Russia

In recent years there has been an upsurge of Arctic tourism in Russia. Previously the Russian Arctic was visited almost exclusively by foreigners, but these days Russian tourists are showing growing interest in this northernmost region. Russia has significant potential to develop this area. The Russian zone is the biggest in the Arctic, and it is rich in tourist attractions: vast expanses of tundra and forest-tundra, with an abundance of wildlife; islands featuring polar desert and semi-desert terrain; innumerable mountains, lakes, and streams offering recreational opportunities; the highest ethnic diversity in the Arctic, including indigenous peoples; and historical artifacts and monuments.

Last year, Kamchatka posted 35 percent more hotel reservations, and a 30 percent uptick was recorded in the Trans-Baikal Territory; the figures for the Amur Region and Yakutia are 27 and 10 percent respectifully, according to a joint survey by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Association of Tourism Aggregators.

Itineraries combining nature hikes with rough outdoor leisure also highlight growing demand. Hotel reservations soared by 17 percent in Buryatia, by 13 percent in the Primorye Territory and by three percent in Karelia and the Murmansk Region.

The Association is also posting a steady increase in demand for cultural and historical tours in the Russian North. For example, reservations in the Arkhangelsk Region increased by seven percent last year on 2024.

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