Investment in the construction of the Walla-Tunturi tourism cluster in the Murmansk region will amount to RUB 27.5 bn. The project is expected to create more than 800 jobs, says TASS, citing Alexander Eliseev, the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism of the Murmansk Region.

The Walla-Tunturi project (formerly known as Port Liinakhamari) is being implemented on the territory of the region's Pechengsky District. It involves the construction of two tourist villages and several glamping sites, the development of a network of hiking trails and landscaped paths to waterfalls, and the equipment of two small aircraft airstrips along with roads and engineering infrastructure networks.

"Tourism in the Arctic is not a given — it's a forced measure. Despite its industrial potential, the Arctic needs tourism," said Eliseev, adding that this challenge was very important for the Arctic and that it was necessary to use all the possible tools, including communication with the indigenous peoples, to achieve the necessary balance. According to Eliseev, it is vital to involve the locals in the processes and listen to their opinions when developing tourism in the region.