National Park Russian Arctic & P erspective of T ourism D evelopment

1. National Park Russian Arctic  & Perspective of Tourism Development in the Northern Russian Barents Sea RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

2. NATIONAL PARK «RUSSIAN ARCTIC» It was founded in 2010 by the governmental prescription «Franz Josef Land»Federal refuge 4.200 million hectares – total area National Park «Russian Arctic» 1.426 million hectares –total area 632 090ha – land  793 910 ha–marine area • Goal - conservation & sustainable use of unique and valuable natural and historical-cultural heritage • Purposes: • Conservation and protection • Monitoring & researches • Support and development of ecological and educational tourism • Education & outreach RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

3. CONSERVATIONHISTORY • 1980 - first proposals on establishment of a SPA – strict nature reserve - was not realized • 1994 - FJL & adjacent shelf waters became State Federal Refuge (= Zakaznik) • 1999- initiative of establishment of a National park was supported by local government of Archangelsk Region • 2001 – State Decree About establishment of the National park Russian Arctic during 2001–2010 • 2006 – National park design project • 2009 – National park Russian Arctic (NPRA) is signed by Mr. Putin, only Novaya Zemlya included • 2011 Administration established & NPRA starts operating (Franz Josef Land Federal Refugeunder management of NPRA) RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

4. TOURISM • Attractions: • Untouched ecosystems • High Arctic wilderness & undisturbed biodiversity • Unique historical & cultural heritage of world importance • Possibilities for different tourism activities • Tourism formats: • Extreme tourism • Cruise tourism • started in 1990 • 2–5 cruises annually (until 2011) • Difficulties: • Remoteness, hard-to-access, lack of infrastructure • Harsh climate restricts many operations & limited time • High prices for all activities • Not developed tourist services • Border area regime & restrictions, permits RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

5. NPRA: what’s the difference for tourism in the area? Specially protected area NPRA – new legal institution administrating the area Appointed at federal level Responsible for all activities within the SPA area NPRA: what’s the difference for tourism in the area? • Permanent population (FJL only): • Weather station (4–8) • Border guard outpost (20–30) • Seasonal activity in 2011: • Tourist cruises • Researches • Clean-up operations • Logistics & support of residents 2011 TOURIST SEASON • 10 cruises • About 1000 tourists • New tour operators • First ever non-Russian flagged tourist vessel • Cooperation in logistics with tour operators RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

6. CURRENT BASIC REGULATIONS All visits to the spa area requiers permits issued by NPRA Admitting free for tourists (person per cruise visit) All cruises requiers guides / cruise inspector from NPRA PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIS based on standing rules • Facilitation of tourism: • Develop tourist infrastructure • Provide services • Information & communication • Conservation & protection: • Develop ecological regulation • Ensure environmental safety • Develop management plans of different scale • Control of activities within SPA RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

7. ECOLOGICAL REGIME: NOW • Background: Federal Laws «About environmental conservation» & «About specially protected areas» • IT IS PROHOBITED WITHIN THE REFUGE: • Any industrial activity including oil & gas development • Testing and storage of weapons • Use of land vehicles in summer outside developed areas limited to the existing objects (polar & military stations) • Hunting, capturing, trapping, killing animals, egging, nest destruction. • Disturbance & movement of the natural & historical monuments, collecting • Keep distance approaching seabird cliffs & walrus rookery by aircraft (1 km, 2 km overfly) and vessels (0.5 km or with a special permit) • Littering, pollution etc. RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

8. ECOLOGICAL REGIME: FUTURE • Develop management plan for the area for next 5 years, project started January 2012 • Develop site-specific plans for the most visited places • Construct & maintain local facilities at sites FACILITATION OF TOURISM: FUTURE • Develop local services • Develop toursit infrastructure (3 main bases and 12 additional bases - places of historical, cultural and environmental significances) • Information & communication (web-portal – www.rus-arc.ru) • Support process of solving problems with military permits RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

9. NPRA’ CUSTOMERS / OPERATORS • Hazardous users - industry & commercial transport • Ecologically-friendly users - tourist operators – common interest in ecological safety • Neutral users – researchers / joint scientific interests • Power state structures – joint state interest POSSIBLE COOPERTION • Tour operators not only users • Joint logistics – decrease cumulative impact • Collaboration on research projects & monitoring programs • Additional opportunities to obtain data on wildlife and environment • Consultations, information, education etc. RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/

10. Thank you for your attention Welcome to the Russian Arctic! RUSSIAN TOURISM ROADSHOW /Berlin, Paris, London 2012/