In Russia, according to the Association of Travel Agencies, domestic tourism has grown significantly. Domestic destinations almost equaled trips abroad. Russians mainly visit museums, various exhibitions and are interested in the culture and history of the regions. And the Novosibirsk region has every chance to become a spot of attraction to tourists. Here are 6 reasons for you to stay for a bit there while visiting Russia.

1. The tourism is both entertaining and informative

In the Novosibirsk region, there are unusual places; for example, Barsukovskaya Cave or Belovsky Waterfall, museums, theaters, a unique black birch tree that grows throughout the region in a single copy, the Novosibirsk Academgorodok, and many other natural, architectural, and cultural objects, including even ancient cities.

The objects of tourism in the Novosibirsk region are the Suzunsky Mint; the holy key in the village of Lozhok, ancient Orthodox church in Kolyvan, the Zavolokinsky village, the monastery in the name of the Archangel Michael of God in Kozikha, the ancient village of Genghis with a unique temple, the ancient Karakansky forest, which preserved many mysterious traditions, and the Abrashino Village which is famous for the transparent lake formed on the site of the Abrashinsky marble quarry. Tourists traditionally visit the Novosibirsk Zoo, and in 2016 two new objects appeared in the city that can generate tourist traffic from neighboring regions – a water park and a dolphinarium.

From Novosibirsk you can go on cruises to Barnaul, Salekhard. Guided tours of Byrd Bay and the Ob Sea are also provided. It is planned to arrange three nights four days cruises along the Ob to Tomsk and Barnaul. Weekend cruises are already competing with tours to Altai. In addition, Novosibirsk entered the top 15 most popular routes for river cruises in 2019.

2. It has mysterious and healing lakes

In 2017, Chany Lake, located in the Novosibirsk Region, fell into the top 5 of the most popular lakes in Russia according to the TurStat analytical agency. People come here to relax and go fishing.

However, 7 years ago, the lake became famous for something completely different. The British tabloid Daily Mail published sensational news under the heading “19 victims of Siberian Nessi in three years: Russian fishermen are demanding an investigation!” This news was picked up by media from various countries. However, the sensation turned out to be a duck, and the lake is still popular among lovers of a relaxing holiday.

Lake Chany is located in five districts of the Novosibirsk region: Zdvinsky, Barabinsky, Chanovsky, Kupinsky and Chistoozerny. From the side of the Chanovsky district, a gravel road leads to the shore, from the side of Barabinsky – in the Cote d’Azur – there is a small recreation area.

Chany is a closed salt lake, the largest in Western Siberia. It arose about 10–13 thousand years ago, at the end of the ice age. The depth of the lake is on average about 2 m, and the deepest places reach 7 m. Sixteen species of fish live in the lake.

The large project that receive federal funding, called the “Lake Cluster”, includes lakes, mineral springs, and healing mud from the Chanovsky District of the Novosibirsk Region. It is estimated that more than 130 additional jobs will be created in the cluster, and the tourist flow will increase by 240.3 thousand people per year. The cluster core is the Lake Karachi sanatorium.

3. The medical tourism

In recent years, the Novosibirsk region has become one of the Russian leaders in the development of high-tech medicine, primarily in the field of cardiology and orthopedics. A growing number of tourists come to the region for various medical services. According to the regional marketing department, foreign economic activity and tourism last year, in the Novosibirsk Region, not only the volume of tourist services in general increased, but also the volume of sanatorium and health services.

The development of medical technologies in the Novosibirsk region opens up new prospects for maintaining or restoring health not only for the population of the Novosibirsk region, but also for Siberia as a whole, which will allow the Novosibirsk region to become competitive in international medical tourism. The high-tech medicine cluster will also act as a catalyst for the development of science, education and business in the Novosibirsk Region, creating demand for innovative products and technologies of a wide profile (nuclear medicine technologies, production of medical products from bio ceramics, medical devices, devices, instruments, consumables, etc.). Having formed, a cluster of high-tech medicine can become another brand of the Novosibirsk region.

4. Children can have a good time

More children began to travel in groups in Russia. So, schoolchildren of the Novosibirsk region will be able to relax under the National Program of Children’s Cultural and Educational Tourism. In 2017, federal quotas for the Novosibirsk region under the program for the development of cultural tourism for children are allocated. Within the framework of the routes, it is planned to visit excursions, museums, house-museums and estates of the great Russian poets and writers, familiarization with the historical, cultural, architectural sights of Russia. These programs can also be used as a guide for tourists with children.

5. Experience the cosmopolitan life

Novosibirsk is a million-plus city, the heart of the Siberian Federal District, which has long won the unofficial title of the “third capital” of Russia. This is a huge, rapidly developing business, commercial and cultural center. In terms of growth, it overtook even New York, Chicago and Tokyo, for which made it included in the Guinness Book of Records. Novosibirsk is cosmopolitan: representatives of more than 80 nationalities peacefully coexist on its territory. And it is also a city of science and culture: the local Opera House is the largest in Russia.