One of the large tourist companies in Kirkenes has a 40 percent decrease this year compared to a normal year. While Nordkapp has a record number of cruise ships this summer, Kirkenes further east in the same county – and close to the border with Russia – is having a hard time. The experience company Barents Safari has experienced a decline of 40 per cent so far this year, according to acting chairman Hans Hatle. He takes tourists on river cruises to the border, and one of his guests this day can confirm that many people fear Russia. – When I told my colleagues that they were going to the Russian border, they asked if I was completely crazy, says Sabine Niklas from Germany. Hans Hatle has about 40 percent fewer guests than in a normal year, like last year. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news Almost halved – The conflict in the east affects us, Hans Hatle asserts. – We have greatly reduced traffic across the Norwegian-Russian border. In addition, there is some skepticism about traveling so far east in Finnmark. We have also noticed that, for example, cruise ship operators are canceling their calls to Kirkenes due to the conflict. According to Innovation Norway, travel optimism has taken a hit after the sharp price increase and the war in Ukraine. It was Aftenposten that reported the case first. Innovation Norway’s forecasts for summer tourism in general look good so far. War and strike But in the north, Målfrid Baik, regional director of NHO Arctic, is worried about the tourism industry. – Unfortunately, it indicates that this will be a very lean summer for many in the travel industry here in the north. – After two tough corona years, people hoped to be able to rebuild. But then came the war in Ukraine, price increases and fuel shortages, and finally, of course, it culminated with the strike in SAS. Målfrid Baik from NHO believes that the summer season so far looks set to be quite bad for tourism in Troms and Finnmark. Photo: Moment Studio Målfrid Baik believes that the war in Ukraine has had greater consequences for tourism in Finnmark than in the rest of the country. – We have heard of foreign tourists who refuse to travel to Northern Norway because they may not think it is safe when it is so close to the Russian border. Should still travel The German tourists who have been on a trip with Hans Hatle are very satisfied with the trip to the tourist facility at the border. They have heard a little about the history, seen the yellow and red border posts and tasted mulberry berries. Emily Niklas was very surprised that the border was not guarded, but only marked with the Norwegian border post two meters from the Russian one. She believes there is no reason to worry about traveling to Eastern Finnmark. – There is nothing dangerous here at the moment. I actually think it’s important that we continue to travel so close to borders and see that the Russians themselves are just ordinary people. It is not the whole country that is behind the war. It is the politicians and the government who are responsible for the war and the restrictions and everything else. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news
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I think Russia’s warfare scares the tourists from Kirkenes – news Troms and Finnmark
