Arctic Tourism Week in Norilsk to Address Sustainable Development of Tourism in Far North

            Participants in the Arctic Tourism Week Interregional Forum, which will be held on 9–13 April in Norilsk as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, will discuss the development of tourism, infrastructure, and transport in the high latitudes of Russia as well as special features of tourism in the regions of the Russian North. The event is being organized by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic and the Norilsk City Administration. The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

As part of the Forum’s business programme, experts and industry specialists will take part in sessions on successful tourism case studies in the Arctic, tourism master planning, tourism interest in Russia’s national culture, industrial tourism practices, as well as aspects of organizing expedition tourism. The discussions will address support measures for tourism entrepreneurs, the development of gastronomic tourism, popular science excursions, as well as a new tourist trend in Russia – cruises to the Arctic.

Arctic Tourism Week will be attended by representatives of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the regional and municipal authorities of the territories that are part of Russia’s Arctic zone, as well as Russian companies that work in the hospitality industry, such as national and regional tour operators, restaurateurs and hoteliers, urban specialists, and specialized IT companies. Roughly 300 experts and more than 30 organizations will be involved in Arctic Tourism Week. The detailed programme of the Forum is available on the website: norilskforum.ru.

The exhibition ‘In the Centre of Taimyr’ will be held in the run-up to the Forum. The exhibition is being organized by the Norilsk Development Agency with the support of the Norilsk City Administration, Norilsk Nickel, and the Arena-Norilsk Sports and Entertainment Complex. Representatives of the Taimyr tourism sector will take part in the exhibition, including 16 tour operators and sightseeing tour agencies, and nine souvenir and gastronomic craftsmen, who will present their goods and services. The exhibition will run from 3 to 9 April, and roughly 5,000 people are expected to attend it. During the exhibition, free tours of the city and Norilsk enterprises, an interactive programme, and lecture sessions will be organized for local residents. More information is available on the website: taimyr-expo.ru.

A special travel programme for experts, media representatives, and bloggers will be offered during the days of the exhibition and the Forum. A media tour will allow participants to visit the sights of Norilsk and Taimyr: a reindeer herder camp, the foothills of the Putorana Plateau, and industrial facilities of Norilsk.

The cycle of business and cultural events is dedicated to tourism, one of the top priority and significant focuses of development in accordance with the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation until 2035.

Russia is chairing the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. A cross-cutting priority of the chairmanship is to ensure responsible governance over the sustainable development of the Arctic. The comprehensive programme of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council aims to promote cooperation to improve the well-being and quality of life of the Arctic population, including the Indigenous peoples of the North, adapt the Arctic to the effects of climate change, conserve the biodiversity and unique ecosystems of the Arctic, ensure socioeconomic development, find solutions in matters concerning global energy and transport security, promote scientific cooperation in high latitudes, and strengthen Arctic cooperation.