摘要
We examine the current issues related to the promotion and development of recreation and international tourism in the Arctic. An analysis is made of foreign experience of recreational nature management, and of the socioeconomic role played by the promotion of the tourist-recreational sphere in polar latitudes under current climate and landscape change. The specific character of the organization of international tourism in the Russian sector of the Arctic is demonstrated having regard to the enhanced interest in the Arctic regions, and to an increase in the volume of cruise tourism and in anthropogenic pressure on polar landscapes. We present the results from an expert examination of recreational nature management in the key areas of the Russian polar protected natural territories which hold promise for the development of arctic tourism, such as the Khibiny and Franz Josef Land National Parks, the Putoranskii State Nature Reserve, the Beringia National Park as well as the area of Russian settlements of the Spitsbergen archipelago, and some areas of Polar Ural. We discuss the reasons behind inadequate development of the tourism resources of Russia’s Arctic sector and the transport infrastructure to ease accessibility to the polar regions. Expert analysis revealed the leading factors that are responsible for the negative influences of tourism on the environment of the Arctic. The issues related to determination of an optimal recreational carrying capacity of the insular and mainland territories are considered. We highlight the need for a scientific accompaniment of nature management projects in the Arctic, and the role of international programs of tourist-recreational promotion for purposes of sustainable development of the Arctic territories of the Russian Federation. A package of tasks to be solved for tourism development of the water areas and territories in the Russian sector of the Arctic is outlined. Keywords polar regions recreational nature management arctic tourism sustainable development recreational carrying capacity