Aleksandra Nikanorova: «Franz Josef Land is Becoming Accessible for Cruise Tourism Again»

Starting in 2027, the nuclear icebreaker «50 Years of Victory» will carry tourists to Franz Josef Land, reports Vedomosti Severo-Zapad, citing the tour operator—the «Polar Travel Club.» Commenting is Aleksandra Nikanorova, Associate Professor at the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University.

Before the 2020 pandemic, the territory of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, which is part of the «Russian Arctic» National Park, was a favorite destination for tourists preferring summer cruises in high latitudes. Travel organizers chartered specially equipped, high-comfort ice-class vessels for these purposes. The annual tourist flow to the islands exceeded 1,000 visitors; in 2019, it reached 1,306, which was the highest on record. The tours were primarily of interest to foreign tourists from Europe, the USA, and China. Russian citizens accounted for about a quarter of all visits. The classic 12-to-14-day itinerary included visits and landings on key islands of significant historical, cultural, and conservation value.

The diversity of natural landscapes and the historical context of the territory create prerequisites for competition with Svalbard, which is popular among tourists. According to estimates by scientists from the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism at Moscow State University’s Faculty of Geography, over 27 points of cultural-historical and natural tourist interest have been identified on Franz Josef Land. Among wildlife attractions, there are 57 species of polar vascular plants, 122 species of mosses, 129 species of lichens, 17 species of nesting birds, as well as marine mammals (narwhal, beluga, Atlantic walrus, seals, polar bear).

In the post-pandemic period, the nature of Arctic tourism on Franz Josef Land has changed significantly: there has been a diversification of tourism products in favor of niche yacht expedition tours, popular science tourism, and educational social tourism. The majority of the tourist flow now consists of Russian travelers.

Considering that the non-budgetary revenues of the «Russian Arctic» National Park are primarily linked to the implementation of ecological tourism, the return of organized Arctic cruises through the archipelago is a factor in the sustainable development of the islands’ infrastructure and in creating conditions for strengthening activities related to the study, protection, and monitoring of rare animal species and unique landscapes. At the same time, tourists are once again able to visit the most remote part of the Russian Federation, where the northernmost point of our country is located.

We agree with many experts who note a number of constraints on the development of Arctic cruise tourism, including the shortage of well-equipped ice-class cruise vessels. This is perhaps the most significant factor preventing Russian tour operators from competing with foreign companies that organize high-latitude cruises on alternative routes, for which specially equipped vessels tailored to tourist demands are readily available.