Russia faces a promising task of integrated use of various resources of the Arctic, including tourism and recreation. In order to provide a sustainable socio-economic development of the polar regions and the country as a whole, it is necessary to conduct interdisciplinary studies of the resources and assimilation capacity of geographical systems based on methods used in socio-economic and physical geography, as well as in cultural geography. In the article the present conditions and trends in the tourism development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) are considered as well as the features of its organization in the Barents Sea Region. The existing problems and prospects of the tourism development in the Arctic under modern conditions are discussed on the example of actively increasing cruise tourism in the region. Moreover, the factors limiting the development of Arctic tourism in the Russian Federation are considered. Conclusions based on comprehensive analysis of current opportunities and constraints in the Barents Sea region are drawn about the need for reconstruction and development of maritime transport and navigation infrastructure throughout the planned ship corridor along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the resumption of the ports of Dudinka, Dikson, Tiksi, Pevek and Provideniya. Further progress of mass ecological and cruise tourism in the Barents Sea basin requires scientific rationing of visits to protected areas and the organization of environmental events in places of excursions.