The Rise of Tourism in Iceland
Cascading, clear blue waterfalls. Icy glaciers, jagged rocky beaches adorned with black sand, expansive mountain ranges. These are just a few of the scenic landmarks that may come to mind when you think about Iceland — a small country that is not short on natural beauty. Overflowing car lots, long waiting lines for famous nature reserves, and plastic pollution are not images that many of us would want to associate with such a gorgeous country, but such are images that we may have to start getting used to with the spike in Icelandic tourism in recent years.
I spent years dreaming about Iceland. It’s a place that I have always felt called to — the serenity, the natural beauty, the pristine skylines. Iceland is a place where the Earth feels untouched, the roads feel uncharted, and everything exists in a raw, untainted way. Three years ago, I finally got the opportunity to visit the fairytale land that I had been dreaming of for so long.
Ever since the creation of budget airlines (such as Wow Air), tourism in Iceland has reached record breaking levels. According to an article by Paul Fontaine, Iceland received over 2 million tourists in 2017. For a country with a population of only about 300,000, this plot of immaculate land has become the hottest new destination for luxury and budget travelers alike.
But when tourism increases in a country known for its natural beauty, it becomes the responsibility of everyone who visits to uphold and adhere to the (rightfully) strict Icelandic laws on conservation and pollution prevention. As nice as it would be for everyone in the world to get to experience the wonder and charm of Iceland, I would be lying if I said it didn’t plague me with worry every time I hear about another person I know visiting the island or see a statistic on the rapidly expanding and growing tourism numbers.
Although the tourism boom is beneficial to Icelanders economically, it pains me to think of one of the most breathtaking places left on Earth becoming a hotbed for litter, pollution, and overall disrespect from visitors who come from places (including the United States) where the environment is not treated with as much consideration.
Luckily for me, when I visited Iceland, it was before tourism had taken off quite so much. I spent a week traveling around the perimeter of the entire country on a two-lane road, and would often drive for hours at a time without seeing another soul. To get around this pristine country, it is essentially necessary to rent a car — and with every car rented by a tourist, with every chock full parking lot, and every landmark entrance with an extra long waiting line, it is inevitable that air pollution and litter will begin to dramatically increase. Many visitors refuse to adhere to the markings on which paths are allowed to be walked on, and which are supposed to be kept off of. Disobeying rules that are in place for good reason can be detrimental to plant life and geological formations on the land.
As pressure is continuously being put on Iceland and the Icelandic government to upgrade their infrastructure in order to support the influx of visitors, it is vital that tourists recognize that they are guests in this country. In a world full of overpopulated cities and polluted natural resources, it is the responsibility of every single one of us to treat the people of Iceland and the land itself with the utmost respect. The privilege of being witness to the artistry of Mother Earth comes with the unspoken agreement to treat nature with the kind of care you would show to your own child. Please keep Iceland beautiful!
This post was created by an amazing GREEN ZINE volunteer contributor, and opinions expressed may not represent the views of Greenpeace. If you are interested in volunteering as a GREEN ZINE contributor, visit this link.
