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Number of tourists to Murmansk Region expected to grow by 11% in 2023

In 2022, the region welcomed 539,400 visitors, including 18,400 tourists from abroad

MURMANSK, December 7. /TASS/. The number of tourists visiting the Murmansk Region in the outgoing year may reach 600,000 showing an 11% growth year-over-year, the region's deputy head of the tourism committee, Irina Bulygina, told reporters.

In 2022, the region welcomed 539,400 visitors, including 18,400 tourists from abroad. "We expect that by the end of this year we will report about 600,000 tourists," the official said.

"The Arctic is a region that in fact does not need a large increase in numbers of visitors, as the nature is very fragile here," she continued. "The nature recovers in the southern regions much faster, while in the Arctic it may require decades."

The tourism product's price in the 2023-2024 season has increased by about 10% year-over-year, she said. "Despite the growing price, tourists are coming."

While commenting on the More Than Journey program of Russia's youth authority, Rosmolodezh, she expressed great hopes. "Right now, Rosmolodezh actively develops many programs in the region - for example, hiking trips, and they have organized a Project Office to develop youth tourism," she said. "Most often [tourists] visit standard locations, but Rosmolodezh programs are changing these preferences, thus making trips truly more than a journey," she said.

About program

The More Than Journey program is implemented by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) under a federal project to build up availability of tourist products.

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