While the Russian war is raging in the Ukraine, many are asking in Longyearbyen how to deal with the Russian neighbours in Barentsburg, where part of the population is Ukrainian, and the largely abandoned settlement of Pyramiden.
The important winter tourism season has started, and the many tourism companies in Longyearbyen were looking forward to the season after two very difficult corona years. Day trips to Barentsburg have, so far, been amongst the most popular offers; Pyramiden is also an important destination, although less frequently visited than Barentsburg because if it further away.
Now many in the industry are wondering how to deal with these offers considering the Russian aggression, war and crimes in the Ukraine and the international reactions. The local tourism inter-trade organisation Svalbard Reiselivsråd has taken the question upn and discussed it between their members and with authorities.
Barentsburg: usually a popular destination, now controversial.
As a result, Svalbard Reiselivsråd does not recommend to boykott the Russian settlements. The organisation argues that sanctions should be measures on a governmental level but not on a local, private sector level, where a boykott is more likely to hit people locally rather than the Russian government and others who are responsible for the current war and crime in the Ukraine. Svalbard Reiselivsråd indicates that they understood from Oslo authorities that a normal relationship is desired on a local level, according to Svalbardposten.
Some members had argued for a boykott of the Russian settlements, and clients had cancelled their bookings. According to Svalbard Reiselivsråd, it is up to every company not to offer trips to Barentsburg or Pyramiden, and it is anyway up to every tourist to book a tour to these settlements or not.