The Expedition and Tourism Center (ETC) of the Russian Geographical Society in the Kingdom of Norway was officially opened on October 24 in the Russian village of Barentsburg in Spitsbergen. This is the second and northernmost RGS Center abroad (the first one opened this spring in Brazil), which marks a new level in strengthening Russia’s presence in the Arctic and developing international tourism.
The ETC was opened at a sports and cultural center under an agreement between the RGS and the state trust «Arcticugol». At the first stage, it will work at this site, and in the future it will move to a modern scientific center under construction in Barentsburg. The ETC’s activities are aimed at popularizing Russian geography, history, scientific research, and tourism potential among an international audience. One of the key projects of the center will be the creation of an interactive map of the Russian heritage sites of Spitsbergen.
«The opening of the Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS in Spitsbergen is a new stage in our work in the high latitudes of the Arctic,» said Artyom Manukyan, Vice-President of the RGS. «Historically, it was through the efforts of the members of the Society that the study of the Arctic archipelagos became systematic: correct mapping and areas of scientific expeditionary research appeared. In the 21st century, when the Arctic often acts as an arena of geopolitical rivalry, we are creating a space for open dialogue between residents and guests of Spitsbergen, representatives of different states, science and the general public. Along with scientific and educational tasks, the center is conceived as a modern communication platform — it is aimed not only at tourists visiting Spitsbergen, but also at residents of Barentsburg. For the local community living in harsh Arctic conditions, the center will become a window into the world of current geographical knowledge thanks to access to materials, books, and lectures by experts from the RGS.»
Participants of the opening ceremony of the new Expedition and Tourist Center of the Russian Geographical Society. Photo: RGS press service
The ETC will become one of the stops of the sightseeing tour of Barentsburg, which is visited annually by a large number of foreign tourists during the tourist season. Guests will be shown a film about the history and activities of the RGS in English and Russian, introduced to expedition projects, and presented Russia as an attractive travel destination. At the ETC, you can watch broadcasts of lectures by famous scientists and researchers from the RGS Lecture Halls in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as presentations of films made during the RGS expeditions. The ETC will also make a significant contribution to the organization of cultural activities for the residents of Barentsburg. For Russian tourists, acquaintance with Spitsbergen will be possible within the framework of joint tourism products of the RGS and the «Arcticugol» trust.
«After three years of discussions on the need for the Russian Geographical Society to be present in Spitsbergen, despite the restrictions and difficult situation, we are jointly opening the Expedition and Tourism Center in Barentsburg. It is doubly pleasant to do this in the year of the 180th anniversary of one of the oldest and most respected public organizations in Russia,» said Andrey Chemerilo, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Spitsbergen. «The opening of the center in the archipelago is the next stage of the active work of the RGS in the Arctic region. At the XVII Congress of the Society, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the extensive experience of the Russian Geographical Society in difficult polar conditions and the need to use it in new programs and projects. For our part, we support the idea of creating an interactive map of the Russian historical heritage in Spitsbergen and are ready to cooperate in its preparation. I wish success to the staff of the center!»
Participants of the opening ceremony of the new Expedition and Tourist Center of the Russian Geographical Society. Photo: RGS press service
The first major project of the new center will be a large-scale work on the creation of the first comprehensive map of the Russian heritage sites of Spitsbergen, which for the first time will combine all the main types of objects on a single cartographic basis: from the 16th century Pomor settlements and monuments of the largest state expeditions to the objects of economic activity of the «Arcticugol» trust and modern scientific stations, as well as a layer of historical Russian toponymy. This unique project is designed to systematize knowledge, contribute to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage and become an important tool for the development of tourism, strengthening Russian presence in the Arctic and visually confirming Russia’s historical connection with the archipelago.
«The opening of the Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS in Barentsburg, Spitsbergen, is a significant event for us,» commented Ildar Neverov, General Director of the «Arcticugol» state trust. «The RGS has played a leading role in the exploration and development of the Arctic, and the names of many of the founding fathers of the Society are directly related to the archipelago. These are Russian astronomer Vasily Struve, whose name is given to the meridian arc, part of which passes through Spitsbergen; and Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (Romanov), who headed the commission of the Russian part of the expedition to measure this arc in Spitsbergen — the first Russian settlement in the archipelago in the Gulf of Hornsund is named after him; and the Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire Sergei Witte, who organized the financing of this expedition; and the famous navigator, Arctic explorer Fyodor Litke, after whom an icebreaker was named, who went to Spitsbergen in the 1930s. Among the members of the RGS were many famous Scandinavians: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Norwegian polar explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. The activities of the RGS that unite people from all over the world and the geography of these activities, which is expanding every year, make it possible for an increasing number of travelers to visit remote places on our planet.»
A mini-library with the Society’s publications has been created at the center, and copies of unique historical maps from the Cartographic Collection of the RGS will be placed there later. The new Expedition and Tourism Center of the RGS in Barentsburg will not only strengthen Russia’s position in the Arctic through active international cooperation, but will also bring tourism to a new level, turning the historical heritage into a living value for the whole world.