In March of this year, the International Arctic Forum was held in the hero city of Murmansk for the first time. As Governor Andrey Chibis emphasized during today's report, its main result was the principled support of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for key projects for the Murmansk Region and initiatives put forward as part of the work of the relevant Commission of the State Council.
"Our work formed the basis of the list of President's instructions following the results of the forum. During the plenary session, Vladimir Vladimirovich stressed that Murmansk and the Murmansk Region set an example of dynamic and progressive development for other Arctic regions. This high assessment is given to all of us, residents, and labor collectives. This is the result of the close-knit, methodical work of the government team, everyone in this room, labor collectives, and Northerners. Thank you for this work. And in a sense, this is an advance so that we can move forward. The President has approved a number of key projects and initiatives that will provide a powerful impetus to the further development of the Murmansk Region and the entire Russian Arctic, and improve the standard of living of our people. This is exactly what we actively fought for, including within the framework of the working group on ensuring transport, logistics and socio-economic development of the Russian Arctic, and then the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic State Council Commission together with colleagues from other regions of the Russian Arctic, experts, and heads of companies," the governor said.
Among the supported initiatives are an increase of at least 3 times the capacity of the Murmansk transport hub; strict compliance with the plan for gasification of the Murmansk region until 2030; elaboration of a comprehensive development project for the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route; inclusion of sections on the development of the Russian Arctic in existing national projects; extension of the renovation program of the Central federal budget of 10 billion rubles each; development of Arctic support settlements; a separate limit for the Arctic regions within the framework of the All-Russian competition for the best projects for creating a comfortable urban environment with annual financing of 10 billion rubles; extension of the program of preferential rental housing to the Arctic and additional measures for resettlement from emergency housing; a special approach to healthcare in the North; development of emergency rescue infrastructure in the Eastern Arctic.
The governor also stressed that the International Arctic Forum has given an impetus to the development of tourism in the region: more than 1,300 participants from 21 countries, more than 300 million rubles have been invested in the region's economy, new points of attraction and landscaping facilities have appeared.
"We have proven that we can host such landmark, major events at the highest level. Thanks to the partners, entrepreneurs, and everyone who invested in the preparation of the forum in such a short time, despite the limited infrastructure. We have heard the most positive reviews, and we have been forced to talk about the Murmansk Region in the international arena," the governor said.
During the report, the governor noted that the tourist flow to us is breaking records. By the end of 2024, the region received a record 761 thousand tourists – 13.5% more than in 2023, and since 2019, the Murmansk region has been visited by 3.3 million people – one in three tourists in the Russian Arctic. Tourism has become an important part of the region's economy: in 2024, the volume of paid services in this area reached 7.2 billion rubles, 20% higher than in the previous year. Over the past six years, the total contribution of the tourism industry to the regional economy has amounted to 27 billion rubles.
"Tourism stimulates the development of our economy. This includes the construction of a new airport terminal, which we will open this year, and the creation of new catering establishments. And the main thing is the development of infrastructure in the Murmansk region," the governor emphasized.
In addition to the amazing nature, whales, the aurora borealis, and white nights, guests are also attracted by event tourism: the festivals "Teriberka", "Imandra", Gastro Industry Fest, the gastronomic "Taste of the Arctic", the competitions of the Polar Olympics, the Murmansk Ski Marathon and other events. The projects "Polar Explorer's Passport" and "Shining Objects" are being implemented in the region, service and infrastructure are being developed within the framework of the national project "Tourism and Hospitality" and the strategy "Live in the North!". Improved service, new routes and advanced training of guides will allow the region to receive even more guests, strengthening its position as one of the leading Arctic destinations in Russia.
Recall that in 2022, on behalf of the President and on the initiative of Governor Andrey Chibis, a Working Group under the State Council of the Russian Federation on ensuring transport, logistics and socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation began work, within the framework of which a concept was proposed, the strongholds of the Russian Arctic were identified and approved. Last year, by Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the State Council's specialized Commission "The Northern Sea Route and the Arctic" was established under the chairmanship of the Governor of the Murmansk Region, Andrei Chibis.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /