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Within the scope of implementation of the Education. Tourism. Development. Russian-Norwegian partnership in the system of continuous education project of the New Eurasia foundation representatives of the tourist branch of Karelia have made a working trip to the Norwegian province of Finnmark. The delegation comprised representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, Karelian resource center of public organizations, being the project coordinator, administration of Louhi region, Petrozavodsk branch of Petrovsky college and The Polar Circle diving-center, located in the village of Nilmoguba of Louhi region. Head of the department of tourism of the Ministry of Economic Development Vladimir Gromov has shared his impressions of visiting northern Norway and opinion on results of the trip.
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- The Varanger museum is our partner from the Norwegian party within the project, - he says. They have already visited our republic. On the reciprocal visit our delegation has been to the cities of Vardø, Vadsø, Varangerbot, Kjøllefjord, Kirkenes, familiarized with tourist potential and objects of tourist infrastructure, visited enterprises of tourism industry. There has been held a meeting with the Vardø municipality administration, during which the parties discussed experience of tourism development, and agreement on necessity and readiness of continuation of teamwork in this sphere have been ahieved.
Norwegian partners expressed their interest in studying tourist activity in territory of republic and application of the Karelian experience in northeast regions of Norway. In turn, Norwegian experts will take part in implementation of tourist projects in Karelia. Similar climat and environment, identity of social and economic development tasks of territories strengthens demand for exchange of knowledge and coordination of joint efforts regarding strategic planning of tourism development.
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We have got acquainted with unique heritage - nature of northern Norway and surprising tourist products realized in this territory. The accompanying infrastructure caused admiration. Like, in a very small town of Vardø located on the island live only 2 thousand people. However, under the bottom of the sea the tunnel is laid, there is an airport, and a seaport. People do not feel isolated from life on the continent. It allows to create conditions for steady social and economic development of the territory. Norwegian experience brightly shows necessity of government support for development of transport and engineering infrastructure of territories. Naturally, as well as all the world, the island dwellers feel the consequence of the world financial and economic crisis, experience problems in fish industry traditional for them. However, today they seriously think of replacing kinds of activity, and about development of tourism in this territory.
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Of course, in the sphere of tourism there are a lot of problems, so it is hard to offer unique tourist products which would allow to compete in the world markets. The example of The Polar Circle diving-center is very important in this respect. An opportunity to develop a network of such diving-centers on the coast of Norway and to connect them in a uniform network with our ones is a unique chance to enter the world tourist market with a uniform offer. Norwegian partners have eagerly undertaken realization of this idea. Environment allows speaking about the opportunity of development of this kind of tourism. Visiting picturesque fjords, getting acquainted with the condition of basic infrastructure of the province of Finnmark, equipment of the port and berthing constructions, we became convinced that all this is real. Norwegian partners look forward with optimism. There are positive examples: in the town of Kirkenes there is a diving-center similar to ours, although with less services.
Russian-Norwegian partnership is the thing of the future of Louhi region in the sphere of tourism development. Today we have achieved good prospects of partnership, and in the future it will allow us to count on realization of other projects in the territory of Karelia.
Nature, especially in the northern Norway has sparse vegetation, though geological features of this territory are interesting. Geological activity is quite high, its displays are continually visible. Abundance of stones, rock outbreaks amaze with unique beauty. Their combination to the Barents sea creates magnificent landscapes. The moe so, as we have visited Norway during the time of mosses and small bushes blooming. At the same time, Norwegians manage to farm on these soils. In small hollows where the grass grows they will organize pastures for sheep and goats. Their brand is famous goat cheese, which from time immemorial alongside with fish was a traditional food of Norwegians.
- We became participants of an unusual safari on royal crab catching. It has been delivered to Barents sea about 40 years ago by Russian scientists from Kamchatka and now it lives everywhere. Today the coast of Norway gives a magnificent opportunity for the organization of crab-safari for tourists. After a safari it is possible to taste the delicacies made of self-caught crabs. The impression is stunning when go to the sea and lift cages with the catch with your own hands. Our safari was combined with visiting rocks and picturesque bays.
Citizens of the country are very modest people, in Norway thery don't show any aspiration to luxury. Expensive cars, gorgeous houses - one will hardly find it there. Modesty in life, modesty in everything. They buy only the most necessary things, though the country is quite rich and prosperous. Modesty is a national feature of Norwegians. Thus, everything is very cosy. There are houses built even on a small spot between rocks, and they are very nice and cosy inside. Of course, it is related to rigid northern conditions which cause necessity of warmth of the fireside.
By the way, we have visited many museums. Norwegians are very careful in preservation of their cultural heritage. In Vardø with the two-thousand population there are four museums. One of them is a museum of Karelian-Norwegian friendship in Kjøllefjord. We lived in a former hostel of seamen, which is a museum nowadays. We were amazed with good arrangement of life of the seamen. People lived in good conditions, and the most important is that original interiors were preserved until now.
Nail Shabiyev
Photos by Vladimir Gromov
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