Rostourism: E-visas may attract more tourists to Russian Arctic

ST. PETERSBURG, December 6. /TASS/. Electronic visas and easier visa formalities for foreign visitors to the Russian Arctic could attract more tourists to the region, deputy head of the Federal Agency for Tourism, Rostourism, Sergei Korneyev told the Arctic: Present and Future international forum on Thursday. "Without major financial investments we could ‘redirect’ to the Russian Arctic tourists and revenues, which now go to Norway, Iceland and the US," he said. "For this we should ease reasonably the entrance formalities for foreign tourists, going to the Arctic zone." "We see as most effective the implementation of electronic visas for foreign tourists traveling to the Russian Arctic regions," he added. The authority says one-entry e-visas could be issued for travelers, crossing the border in the Arctic zone. The list of countries would cover the states, from where most tourists come to the region. Another possible measure is to offer visa-free travelling for 15 days for tourists, who travel the Russian Arctic onboard cruises or in groups by planes. "The Arctic tourism in the world is a true blockbuster, and people who live in big cities make the majority of travelers - they want to see the North, the Northern Lights, snow, ice, want to experience extreme temperatures," the official told TASS. "In this segment we have clearly unique advantages, which we want to use." Other options for authorities to eye are to cut the port duties, to organize the Pevek border-crossing station in Chukotka, and to allow civil planes to use the military airfield on the Alexandra Land (Franz Josef Land). Presently, getting to Franz Josef Land is possible by sea only. About the forum The Arctic: Present and Future forum is underway in St. Petersburg to December 7. The event features about 2,500 delegates from Russia and 20 countries. Read more