Murmansk Oblast plans to develop marine Arctic tourism with the support of experienced foreign colleagues, international cooperation programs and the support of federal authorities, as the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development of the region Olga Kuznetsova told on Friday.

      The polar region intends to adopt the experience of the leading courtiers in this kind of tourism, Iceland and northern Norway and develop further cooperation with these countries. In particular, the polar region is very interested to persuade the Norwegian “Hurtigruten” cruise company specializing in tours along the Norwegian coast via Kirkenes, the closest Norwegian port city to Russia, to extend its cruise routes up to Murmansk.