The newly appointed tourist director for Iceland has complained about an excess of travel to the once-quiet country
Could there be too many bathers in Iceland's Blue Lagoon? Too many visitors clogging the downtown streets of Reykjavik? Amazing as it may seem, the new tourist director of this newly-discovered country recently has criticized the way tourism has affected her innocent nation.
What brought about this sudden crush of tourism? Some point to the
recent success of Iceland's budget-priced new air carrier, WOW Airlines,
which offers low-cost stopovers in Iceland en route to Europe. Others
point to the remarkably successful new program of Iceland Airlines,
which offers a free guide to travelers wanting a more intimate look at
the interesting nation.
Whatever the reason, Iceland is booming. And the first-ever tourist director for Iceland doesn't like the way tourism there is shaping up. She points out, for instance, that more than one lake of thermally-heated waters is available for visitors, not just the famed Blue Lagoon, which is a 20-minute ride from the nation's capital. She points to the out-of-the-way locations that are just as appealing as the popular routes, locations that could help disperse the nation's tourism. And though she denies that she is opposed to increased tourism to Iceland, her remarks have been interpreted as such by a great many observers.
May I point out that heavier use of an Iceland guidebook might disperse the tourist crush there? And though a great many Iceland guidebooks currently are bestsellers in our bookstores, their increased use might steer the tourist to quieter locations.
Additionally, there are many new hotels currently in construction that might disperse the tourists crowds. Pending that development, would-be visitors to Iceland should know that they will be competing for facilities with a large number of visitors who are contributing to a tourism boom. Iceland is hot!
Could there be too many bathers in Iceland's Blue Lagoon? Too many visitors clogging the downtown streets of Reykjavik? Amazing as it may seem, the new tourist director of this newly-discovered country recently has criticized the way tourism has affected her innocent nation.
Whatever the reason, Iceland is booming. And the first-ever tourist director for Iceland doesn't like the way tourism there is shaping up. She points out, for instance, that more than one lake of thermally-heated waters is available for visitors, not just the famed Blue Lagoon, which is a 20-minute ride from the nation's capital. She points to the out-of-the-way locations that are just as appealing as the popular routes, locations that could help disperse the nation's tourism. And though she denies that she is opposed to increased tourism to Iceland, her remarks have been interpreted as such by a great many observers.
May I point out that heavier use of an Iceland guidebook might disperse the tourist crush there? And though a great many Iceland guidebooks currently are bestsellers in our bookstores, their increased use might steer the tourist to quieter locations.
Additionally, there are many new hotels currently in construction that might disperse the tourists crowds. Pending that development, would-be visitors to Iceland should know that they will be competing for facilities with a large number of visitors who are contributing to a tourism boom. Iceland is hot!
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