The Arctic: Territory of Investment Opportunities and Vivid Travel
Tourism is opening up enormous opportunities for the Arctic and contributing greatly to the development of its territories and local communities. It stimulates entrepreneurial activity and job creation, the construction of social infrastructure facilities, improving the quality of education and promoting cultural and natural heritage. Russia's infrastructural and natural potential for the tourism development in the Arctic is huge, but it should be exploited whilst preserving the region's unique ecosystem and the way of life of the indigenous peoples of the North. We give an assessment of the tangible impact of the development of the tourism industry in the northern regions and the ideal vision for a tourist Arctic in the future. It is obvious that the state, business and tourists need to take a special approach to the Arctic, keeping in mind the importance of preserving nature and the special status of local communities. As part of efforts to develop tourism in the Arctic, foreign visitors should be provided with reliable information about our country that debunks common myths and misconceptions, and demonstrates that Russia is open to friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthening of people's diplomacy. The development of Arctic tourism should also go hand in hand with enhancing the efficiency of regional and municipal government as an important indicator of the work of heads of administrations at different levels. What are the most promising types of tourism in the region and what economic impact can they have? How is the preferential treatment of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and the Arctic Hectare affecting the tourism industry today in the Arctic? How can we implement a sustainable approach to the tourism to preserve the fragile nature and socio-economic development of the Arctic regions?
Moderator
Nikolay Tabashnikov,
Editor-in-chief, My Planet TV channel
Panellists
Alexander Biba,
President, Cosmos Hotel Group
Vladimir Vasilev,
Executive Director, The Secretariat of the Northern Forum
Oleg Melnikov,
Executive Vice President – Head of the Department of Banking Support for Contracts, Gazprombank
Aisen Nikolaev,
Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
Elvira Nurgalieva,
Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Rustam Romanenkov,
Deputy General Director - Secretary of State, Center for Arctic Initiatives
Mikhail Rybnikov,
Chief Executive Officer, Member of the Board of Directors, Member of the Management Board, PhosAgro
Aleksandr Tertychnyy,
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Green Flow Project
Paul Fuhs,
President Emeritus, Marine Exchange of Alaska
Front row participant
Dmitry Guzhelya,
Deputy General Director, ANO Russia – Land of Opportunity
