Arctic Tourism
In her cutting-edge book "Nomad Century", Gaia Vince calls the constant movement in the wake of change - a key survival strategy of humanity. As progress minimizes this endless migration, nature calls on our inner explorers to expand our perceptions of the world. Experiential and ecotourism are taking an increasing share in the industry and are one of the most popular destinations in the Arctic.
According to the World Tourism Organization, in 2019 ecotourism comprised about 10% of the global travel economy, 20% in the USA, and only about 2% in Russia. A big challenge for nature and industry is the lack of federal support for sustainable tourism in developing countries. Luckily, heroes on the ground change the situation with the power of small deeds. There are few ways to travel to the Russian Arctic, but as temperatures change, routes will open up, boosting tourism and threatening to overload. Coasts will change with sea levels, shifting ecosystems, and new influxes of tourists calling for balancing risks for long-term resilience.
Tourism strategies - are outcome-oriented tools to help manage these risks and resources to maintain a unique user experience. A good example is the strategy of a water tourist route on the White Sea (Kandalaksha Bay). Local identity, the culture of small ethnic groups, the oldest marine reserve in Russia, and other fabulous Arctic exotics are at the heart of this project. The White Sea - one of the few water areas of the central Russian North - is developed as a sailing sports route with appropriate infrastructure solutions.
An essential detail of the "Forbidden North" approach is the educational component that helps tourists and locals better understand our impact and the value of northern nature. Today, the project is being actively developed by prostor and local communities and managers. So hopefully soon, the brand of the White Sea - as a space of pure scientific and practical knowledge about the North - will soon pioneer sustainable Arctic tourism in Russia.
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