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Tourism & Recreation

Tourism is a relatively recent development for the Far North. During the last 15 years, growing numbers of visitors have arrived each year to experience the Arctic’s spectacular landscapes and wildlife and pursue recreation in the region’s unique settings. In 2000, the tourist count reached more than 1.5 million, with northern Fennoscandia drawing about two thirds of the total. Arctic cruise ship traffic jumped from 50 ships in 2004 to 250 ships in 2007, with the most increases in Nunavut (Canada) and Greenland.

The majority of tourist travel occurs during the summer months, when visitors can take pleasure in the “land of the midnight sun” and pursue a broad suite of outdoor activities. But the northern winter also embodies an austere beauty, accentuated by the magic of the aurora borealis and snow-related sports. Regardless of season, nature-based activities are by far the most popular focus of international travelers. Visitors can take self-guided tours, ship cruises, and eco-tours, which generally serve small groups seeking to learn about the environment, contribute to nature conservation, and/or interact with local cultures. The range of recreational activities is virtually limitless—from wildlife viewing and historical sightseeing to skiing, dog-sledding, mountaineering, and boating of all varieties. Regional destinations encompass all the Arctic’s natural environments, including the North Pole.

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  • Ivory Gull in flight
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  • The Soviet Mirny station was the site of the 34th Soviet Antarctic Expedition, from the fall of 1988 to the spring of 1989.
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  • A reproduction of Rockwell Kent’s 1932 painting “Early November: North Greenland” in the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, Moscow.
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The continuing rise of tourism in the Far North promises to better acquaint growing numbers of international travelers to the region’s wonders and deliver increasing revenues to local and Arctic state economies in the years to come. At the same time, the resulting increase in the development of infrastructure and tourism-related pollution and waste—among other effects—are already causing considerable environmental and social impacts. The Sustainable Arctic Tourism Association, the Arctic Council, and conservation groups are urging that governments and the tourism industry work together to insure that tourism activities take into account the fragility of the Far North’s ecosystems and native cultures.