Arkhangelsk region to become center of rural tourism

The Arkhangelsk region begins to develop tourism clusters. The defense of the project was conducted successfully in Moscow in early June. As a result, tourist clusters received a substantial federal support. It primarily goes about environmental and rural tourism.

"On the Russian market, this is a new trend, and the Arkhangelsk region can be called one of the pioneering regions in this business, first vice-president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, Vladimir Kantorovich told Pravda.Ru. As Russia is mostly a northern country, most of our tourists, of course, try to spend their holidays on the shores of warm seas. Europe has been reaching out to nature and ecological tourism. Russia and the Arkhangelsk region should move in this direction too."

"Rural tourism is among five major strategies worldwide. In Russia, this type of tourism only begins to develop, while in Western Europe it has been popular for a long time already. In the Arkhangelsk region, two very promising projects appeared that are implemented in the framework of the federal target program "Development of domestic tourism," first vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Yuri Borzykin said in an interview with Pravda.Ru. - This is a good mechanism of public-private partnership. I'd like to believe that the Arkhangelsk region will earn respectable reputation at this point to be an example to others. This remarkable northern region has very good prospects, and the administration of the region understands them well."

Regional tourism and recreation clusters "Belomorsky" and "Kotlas - Solvychegodsk" were included on the list of prospective projects approved for implementation in the second phase of the federal target program providing state support in the form of federal grants to investment projects in the field of tourism, particularly in the construction and reconstruction of infrastructure objects.

The "Belomorsky" cluster includes Arkhangelsk, Novodvinsk and Primorsky district. As part of the project, it is planned to build a modern business center in Arkhangelsk for events of international format, complete with a hotel and a restaurant. Two large entertainment complexes will be built, Hotel Dvina will be reconstructed. Tourist complex "Small Karels" in the Primorsky district and "Mechka" in Novodvinsk will be developed further as well. The complexes will become ski resorts. The project also stipulates reconstruction of main highways to key tourist sites and the construction of piers for cruise ships. 

The second tourist and recreational cluster will unite the territories of Kotlas and Solvichegodsk. In Kotlas, it is planned to build cultural park area "North Dvina" with a pedestrian boulevard, a dinosaur park, an art gallery, ski and roller tracks, a zoo and an indoor water park. The project involves the construction of two modern hotels, a business center, as well as an arena with football fields and courts. On the territory of Solvichegodsk, there will be a tourist complex, a network of guest houses, hotels and restaurants, and a new gas station.

"The development of new clusters will make Arkhangelsk the center of business and cruise tourism in Northwest Russia, and it will be possible to conduct large-scale events of national and international level" said the governor of the Arkhangelsk region, Igor Orlov.