Development of tourism in the Arctic against the background of climate change: what are the prospects for the “arctic hectare”

 In this article, the author raises questions related to the allocation of the “arctic hectare” to Russian citizens and the prospects for the development of tourism in the northern territories. The article deals with the experience of tourism development in countries both far and near abroad, where the tourism business and hospitality services occupy a significant place in the country’s GDP. The author believes that in the period of critical changes in climatic conditions for the life and management of the traditional type of economy by indigenous people — small peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East — it is extremely important to take into account their opinion and their centuriesold experience of survival in difficult natural conditions.  These ethnic groups have been living in conditions of practical self-isolation for many years, dictated not only by the natural and geographical location of their places of compact residence, but also by the inaccessibility of many achievements of civilization due to infrastructure
underdevelopment, lack of transport logistics and residual financial support for their needs. Now, during the pandemic, it is possible that these territories are attractive for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as for some part of the population as a place of likely future residence of their families. Thus, a unique opportunity is created for the application of state allocations and investments from large corporations to diversify the economy of the Arctic and the North, modernize and possibly create from scratch the tourist infrastructure in the remote circumpolar territories. But this will require not only to reconsider the attitude of people to the environment, but also to change the worldview of the local indigenous population to find their place in the changing climatic and socio-economic conditions of their life on this earth. 

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