National Park Russian Arctic & Perspective of Tourism Development

in the Northern Russian Barents Sea

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

NATIONAL PARK «RUSSIAN ARCTIC»It was founded in 2010 by the governmental prescription

National Park «Russian Arctic»

1.426 million hectares – total area

632 090 ha – land 793 910 ha – marine area

«Franz Josef Land» Federal refuge

4.200 million hectares – total area

Goal - conservation & sustainable use of unique and valuable natural and historical-cultural heritage

Purposes: • Conservation and protection• Monitoring & researches • Support and development of ecological and educational tourism • Education & outreach

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

CONSERVATION HISTORY

• 1980 - first proposals on establishment of a SPA – strict nature reserve - was not realized

• 1994 - FJL & adjacent shelf waters became State Federal Refuge (= Zakaznik)

• 1999 - initiative of establishment of a National park was supported by local government of Archangelsk Region

• 2001 – State Decree About establishment of the National park Russian Arctic during 2001–2010

• 2006 – National park design project

• 2009 – National park Russian Arctic (NPRA) is signed by Mr. Putin, only Novaya Zemlya included

• 2011 Administration established & NPRA starts operating (Franz Josef Land Federal Refuge under management of NPRA)

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

TOURISM

Attractions:

• Untouched ecosystems

• High Arctic wilderness & undisturbed biodiversity

• Unique historical & cultural heritage of world importance

• Possibilities for different tourism activities

Tourism formats:

• Extreme tourism

• Cruise tourism started in 1990 2–5 cruises annually (until 2011)

Difficulties:

• Remoteness, hard-to-access, lack of infrastructure

• Harsh climate restricts many operations & limited time

• High prices for all activities

• Not developed tourist services

• Border area regime & restrictions, permits

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

NPRA: what’s the difference for tourism in the area?

Specially protected area

NPRA – new legal institution administrating the area

Appointed at federal level

Responsible for all activities within the SPA area

NPRA: what’s the difference for tourism in the area?

Permanent population (FJL only):

• Weather station (4–8)

• Border guard outpost (20–30)

Seasonal activity in 2011:

• Tourist cruises

• Researches

• Clean-up operations

• Logistics & support of residents

2011 TOURIST SEASON• 10 cruises

• About 1000 tourists

• New tour operators

• First ever non-Russian flagged tourist vessel

• Cooperation in logistics with tour operators

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

CURRENT BASIC REGULATIONS

All visits to the spa area requiers permits issued by NPRA

Admitting free for tourists (person per cruise visit)

All cruises requiers guides / cruise inspector from NPRA

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIS based on standing rules

Conservation & protection:

• Develop ecological regulation

• Ensure environmental safety

• Develop management plans of different scale

• Control of activities within SPA

Facilitation of tourism:

• Develop tourist infrastructure

• Provide services

• Information & communication

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

ECOLOGICAL REGIME: NOW

Background: Federal Laws «About environmental conservation» & «About specially protected areas»

IT IS PROHOBITED WITHIN THE REFUGE:

• Any industrial activity including oil & gas development

• Testing and storage of weapons

• Use of land vehicles in summer outside developed areas limited to the existing objects (polar & military stations)

• Hunting, capturing, trapping, killing animals, egging, nest destruction.

• Disturbance & movement of the natural & historical monuments, collecting

• Keep distance approaching seabird cliffs & walrus rookery by aircraft (1 km, 2 km overfly) and vessels (0.5 km or with a special permit)

• Littering, pollution etc.

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

ECOLOGICAL REGIME: FUTURE

• Develop management plan for the area for next 5 years, project started January 2012

• Develop site-specific plans for the most visited places

• Construct & maintain local facilities at sites

FACILITATION OF TOURISM: FUTURE

Develop local services

• Develop toursit infrastructure (3 main bases and 12 additional bases - places of historical, cultural and environmental significances)

• Information & communication (web-portal – www.rus-arc.ru)

• Support process of solving problems with military permits

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

NPRA’ CUSTOMERS / OPERATORS

• Hazardous users - industry & commercial transport • Ecologically-friendly users - tourist operators – common interest in

ecological safety • Neutral users – researchers / joint scientific interests • Power state structures – joint state interest

POSSIBLE COOPERTION

Tour operators not only users

•Joint logistics – decrease cumulative impact•Collaboration on research projects & monitoring programs•Additional opportunities to obtain data on wildlife and environment •Consultations, information, education etc.

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

Thank you for your attentionWelcome to the Russian Arctic!

RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/