Russian Arctic in Post-Pandemic World: a Detox Tourism Hub?

Photo: Kamenev Andrey/GeoPhoto.ru

Russian Arctic in Post-Pandemic World: a Detox Tourism Hub?

Biologists from the Kola Science Center, Russian Science Academy, believe that the Russian Arctic has chances to become an important tourist hub after the pandemic offering a wide array of innovative products. According to a newly published study entitled Developing Tourism in the Russian European North and Arctic presented to the public this 12 January, detox tours, digital tourism and plogging may become key new products featured by tourism providers operating in the Arctic.

“Both during the COVID-19 pandemic and after it is over, a strong focus should be put on investing into environmental forms of tourism in sparsely populated areas, individual and family tours, automobile tourism and cycling packages. Among new products will be detoxification tours and digital tourism”, the study says.

Researchers believe that detox packages may become especially popular. Taking a rest in remote Arctic areas combined with intense detoxification programs will help city dwellers both relieve stress and restore health. In turn, digital packages will give a new angle on what Arctic tourism may look like, with modern technologies enhancing travel experiences through added reality and gamification. Another prospective avenue for leisure activities in the High North is plogging, an eco-friendly exercise popular in Nordic countries through which people pick up trash while jogging to both improve their health and make the Arctic a cleaner place.

With tourism being cited as one of the forefront industries in the Russian Arctic, the region’s recreational potential still remains largely underexplored. This is why studies aiming to find new development avenues in this industry are of special importance.

Arctic Today is a column by PORA CEO Alexander Stotskiy analyzing major international, national and regional events and trends in the Arctic.
Alexander Stotskiy
13 January 2022
Arctic Today