Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and the job opportunities created. They appreciate many of the services that have grown to
cater to the increased traffic (more great music festivals, for example, and more restaurants
and nightlife). Many locals admit that foreign traveller curiosity has piqued their own in-
terest in Icelandic nature and culture.
But Icelanders are also voicing valid concerns: that the population of 325,000 (and its
existing infrastructure) is ill-equipped to handle the demands of one-million-plus visitors.
Stories are rife of Reykjavík landlords evicting tenants so they can turn their properties in-
to guesthouses or list their apartments on Airbnb. The media hones in on instances of tour-
ists deliberately disrespecting nature (off-road driving is the perfect way to madden
Icelanders, as is not following swimming-pool etiquette) or taking dangerous risks out of
ignorance (such as hiking in poor weather without proper equipment or getting vehicles
stuck in rivers).
Protecting the Goose that Lays the Golden Egg
An important debate is taking place about whether Iceland's fragile environment can with-
stand the pressure it's now under. The country's unspoilt natural landscape is cited by 80%
of tourists as a factor influencing their decision to visit. But how much tourism can Ice-
land's waterfalls, hiking trails and lava fields sustain, and how can they be adequately pro-
tected while still giving travellers the experience they expect?
This extends to bigger questions about the future of the tourism industry. If figures con-
tinue to grow at the current rate, Iceland could be hosting 2 million visitors in 2020. While
it's near-impossible to be disappointed by the country's magnificent landscapes, how can
invested locals ensure that traveller satisfaction extends to other areas? What about the
new experience of heavy crowds at some sites, or the lack of public toilets in some tourist
areas? What about the road network, accommodation quality, or overall value for money (a
common gripe, especially with prices rising each season)? How can travellers be educated
to minimise their impact? And, perhaps most importantly, how can Icelanders avoid be-
coming marginalised in their own country?
An Energetic Future
Tourism now exceeds fishing as Iceland's dominant industry, and has helped Iceland
bounce back from its banking crisis. But to ensure that prosperity continues, even if the
tourism boom comes to a crashing halt, Iceland is shoring up its position as a green-energy
