Solovki receive 33% more foreign tourists

This year, the Solovki Museum received a little bit fewer tourists than a year ago. According to the museum's Deputy Director for sightseeing Mrs. Marina Lugovaya, the main reason for the downturn is the bad weather. Many visitors of the island, who came in the summer, were lodged in tents, so they had to leave the site because of severe storms.

On the other hand, reports the administration of local nature reserve, the number of overseas visitors of the museum went up in 2012. During the past summer season nine foreign vessels called at the islands' ports. As a result, Solovki welcomed 5.7 thousand foreign travellers. Last year there were slightly over 4.5 thousand visitors from abroad. At that, informs Interfax-Tourism, the foreign visitors' sightseeing program has been extended substantially. Some of the overseas liners stayed on the Solovki islands for two or three days; that allowed tourists to get a closer look at what Solovki have to offer.

As of today, the most visited tourist sites of the islands are the Botanical Garden, the Kremlin, Zayatsky Island and Mount Sekirnaya. Visitors also enjoy the Solovki Camp and Prison exhibition while on the island. At the same time, says Mrs. Lugovaya, the interest towards unusual sightseeing itineraries. For one, during the last year's summer season the tourists loved visiting the Kutuzov archipelago and watched northern right whale dolphins in their natural habitat.