31.01.2024, 19:03
Tour operators noted an increase in demand among Russians for cruises to the Arctic
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS Tour operators record the growing demand of Russians for cruises to the Arctic, in 2023 the tourist flow to the region exceeded one million people, according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry.
"In the last few years, we have seen a steady increase in demand for travel to the polar regions. This year, for example, we will have three cruises to the North Pole, two of which have already been fully sold," said Tamara Naumenko, marketing director of the tour operator Poseidon Expeditions.
She attributes the growing popularity of polar destinations primarily to the audience's demand for more interesting and in-depth travel formats.
"Today, the market is oversaturated with a mass product. And we see that travel, based on active cognition, is becoming a new trend," the expert said.
According to Naumenko, the ratio of sales of foreign and domestic cruises to the most popular destinations - Antarctica and the North Pole - is about 50-50.
"Most tours are bought heavily in advance. The depth of sales is one and a half to two years, and reservations for 2025 are already actively underway," she said.
Approximately 80% of customers go on Antarctic and Arctic cruises again. However, recently there has been a noticeable increase in new audiences, especially younger ones.
At RussiaDiscovery, the ratio of cruises in Russian and foreign territories is also about 50-50. The Far East is the leader in Russia - the Kuril Islands, the Commander Islands, Chukotka and Wrangel Island. Iceland is in international programs.
"We also see an increase in Russians' interest in expedition cruises in the polar territories," Pavel Shershnev, the company's development director, said.
For example, in the summer of 2024, the tour operator offers a cruise route to the largest archipelago of the Russian Arctic - Novaya Zemlya.
As explained in the travel companies, it is possible to get to the Russian Arctic only as part of a scientific or tourist expedition. Arctic cruises in the waters of the Franz Josef Land archipelago and cruises to the North Pole with entry into the territory of the national park take place from July to September.
According to the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Economic Development, the tourist flow to the Arctic in 2023 exceeded 1.1 million people.
"In the last few years, we have seen a steady increase in demand for travel to the polar regions. This year, for example, we will have three cruises to the North Pole, two of which have already been fully sold," said Tamara Naumenko, marketing director of the tour operator Poseidon Expeditions.
She attributes the growing popularity of polar destinations primarily to the audience's demand for more interesting and in-depth travel formats.
"Today, the market is oversaturated with a mass product. And we see that travel, based on active cognition, is becoming a new trend," the expert said.
According to Naumenko, the ratio of sales of foreign and domestic cruises to the most popular destinations - Antarctica and the North Pole - is about 50-50.
"Most tours are bought heavily in advance. The depth of sales is one and a half to two years, and reservations for 2025 are already actively underway," she said.
Approximately 80% of customers go on Antarctic and Arctic cruises again. However, recently there has been a noticeable increase in new audiences, especially younger ones.
At RussiaDiscovery, the ratio of cruises in Russian and foreign territories is also about 50-50. The Far East is the leader in Russia - the Kuril Islands, the Commander Islands, Chukotka and Wrangel Island. Iceland is in international programs.
"We also see an increase in Russians' interest in expedition cruises in the polar territories," Pavel Shershnev, the company's development director, said.
For example, in the summer of 2024, the tour operator offers a cruise route to the largest archipelago of the Russian Arctic - Novaya Zemlya.
As explained in the travel companies, it is possible to get to the Russian Arctic only as part of a scientific or tourist expedition. Arctic cruises in the waters of the Franz Josef Land archipelago and cruises to the North Pole with entry into the territory of the national park take place from July to September.
According to the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Economic Development, the tourist flow to the Arctic in 2023 exceeded 1.1 million people.
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