n June 1, a direct visa-free voyage on the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov departed from the port of Murmansk to the port of Barentsburg. This is a joint expedition project of the Arktikugol trust and the Morskaya Praktika company.
"Our trust, established in 1931, is the main enterprise providing for the Russian presence on the archipelago. The voyage was organized on the instructions of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, as well as in fulfillment of the task set by the Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov. It became possible thanks to the assistance of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Northern UGMS" and the support of the government of the Murmansk Region," said Ildar Neverov, General Director of the Arktikugol Trust. "The special feature of the voyage is that on board are both tourists, who in just a few days will be able to see the unique Arctic nature, get acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of the villages, and employees of the trust, who will work in the most difficult climatic conditions and will contribute to strengthening the Russian presence on the archipelago. In addition, the ship carries family members of those who have been working away from home for a long time, and this voyage is a valuable opportunity to see their loved ones.”
The Murmansk-Spitsbergen flight opens up prospects for regular transport communication between the capital of the Russian Arctic and the archipelago. The importance of organizing this unique route was noted by Deputy Governor – Minister of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region Svetlana Panfilova and she wished all participants a bright and successful journey.
"Today is, without exaggeration, a historic event. Passenger service is being resumed: the sea route that connects the Russian Arctic and Spitsbergen is coming back to life. After more than ten years. This voyage underlines the importance of implementing the strategy of the Russian presence on the archipelago, and is a significant stage for the development of tourism, science, and international relations in the northern latitudes. I congratulate everyone on the beginning of a truly legendary journey that opens up new opportunities not only for our region, but for the entire country," said the vice-governor.
The expedition program includes a three-day sea passage from the port of Murmansk to the port of Barentsburg and a five-day excursion tour with a visit to the Russian settlements of Barentsburg, Pyramiden, Grumant and Kolsby, the Norwegian settlement of Longyearbyen, as well as a trip to the picturesque places of the western coast of Isfjorden. The Russian settlements of Spitsbergen have a developed tourist infrastructure, including opportunities for comfortable accommodation of guests and their transportation around the archipelago.
"The development of tourism in the Arctic region plays a key role in the economic growth of the northern territories, ensuring sustainable development of infrastructure, preserving the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples and supporting environmental sustainability. The agreement signed in 2022 between the Tourism Committee of the Murmansk Region and the Arktikugol Trust emphasizes the importance of cooperation in this area and promotes the unique natural and cultural attractions of the Arctic among a wide audience of tourists," said Acting Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Murmansk Region Maxim Bugayev.
The next flight to Spitsbergen is scheduled for June 13.
For reference: The Svalbard archipelago, located between 76°26" and 80°50" north latitude, is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean and three seas – the Barents, Norwegian and Greenland. This is one of the most inaccessible regions of the planet, a unique territory of pristine Arctic nature.
To visit Spitsbergen in case of direct travel from the Russian Federation, Russian travelers do not need a visa due to the absence of transit through the mainland of Norway. It is enough to have a foreign passport to cross the border at the sea checkpoint "Murmansk".
Today, Russia, along with Norway, is the most widely represented country on the archipelago. It owns 241 square kilometers of territory. The Arctic tourism center Grumant, which operates as part of the Arktikugol trust, is the only Russian tour operator on Spitsbergen with its own material and technical base.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region based on materials from the Arktikugol trust /
Photo: Lev Fedoseyev and the Murmansk Region Tourism Committee
