MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. Tour operators point to Russians' growing demand for trips to the Arctic, but the demand is not satisfied due to insufficient offer, Executive Director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Maya Lomidze told a news conference at TASS.

"All these aspects - the North's exotics, cuisine, a certain overcoming, natural attractions and interesting traditions of indigenous peoples living almost throughout our Arctic - have caused the growing interest that tour operators can see," she said. "However, this growing interest is not satisfied, because, strictly speaking, there are not enough products."

According to Russia's Ministry for Development of the Far East and Arctic, as many as 1.2 million people visited the Arctic in 2024. That is, less than 1% of tourists traveling across the country, she continued. "I assume that as cruise services to other islands begin, as programs in different Arctic zones begin, then within a season and a half, the number of visitors may double," she said.

Tour operators say Karelia and Murmansk are of highest demand among Arctic destinations, and Arkhangelsk follows them by a wide margin. "As for the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, tour operators report hundreds of tourists last year. Nevertheless, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region means exotics, ethnic tours, because over there visitors can learn the life of indigenous peoples," she added.