Tourism Iceland

Question 1

Tourism definition

Answer 1

Travel away from home for recreation and pleasure that involves at least 1 overnight stay

Question 2

How many tourists were there in 2008

Answer 2

560 000

Question 3

How many tourists were there in 2018

Answer 3

2.5 million

Question 4

By how much did the growth in tourism increase from 2008 to 2018

Answer 4

2 million

Question 5

Reasons for increase in tourism

Answer 5

• cheap flights
• short distance from europe
• perfect stop off point across atlantic
• more people can afford holidays
• people have more holidays
• people want to travel to new and exotic countries

Question 6

Attractions in Iceland

Answer 6

Golden circle route
- thingvellir national park
- geysirs
- gullfoss waterfall

Question 7

Economic benefits

Answer 7

• tourism revenue in 2018 = 4 billion
• employs 30 000 people
• many jobs are created
• growth in income and more taxes paid by tourist industries

Question 8

Tourism revenue in 2018

Answer 8

4 billion

Question 9

Amount of people employed in tourism sector

Answer 9

30 000 people

Question 10

Social benefits

Answer 10

• export tradition and culture
• encourages preservation of natural heritage sites

Question 11

Economic disadvantages

Answer 11

• money gained from tourism is not spread evenly
• Reykjavik gets 50% of all overnight stays
• seasonal employment
• overdependant on tourism? Covid
• overcrowding on golden circle

Question 12

Percentage of all overnight stays in Reykjavik

Answer 12

50%

Question 13

Environmental problems

Answer 13

• poor air quality
• limited space
• footpath erosion
• vandalism
• overcrowding

Question 14

Social impacts

Answer 14

• loss of local tradition
• local businesses lost to americamised services

Question 15

managing tourism

Answer 15

• measuring tourism impact
• managing sensitive sites
• reducing overcrowding at sites
• improving air quality in reykjavik

Question 16

managing tourism impact

Answer 16

• Data from an Environmental Assessment Tool assesses the status of protected areas and natural attractions
• Based on the data interventions to safeguard sites and communities are put in place. E.g geothermal river walk and bathing site was closed for public access in 2020.

Question 17

managing sensitive sites

Answer 17

• Infrastructure at tourist sites is improved
• To manage footpath erosion, authorities build raised footpaths, decking boards and viewing points.
• Iceland has established a specific fund called theTourist Site Protection Fund.The annual budget in 2017 was $4.5 million.

Question 18

reducing overcrowding at sites

Answer 18

• The Visit Iceland website encourages visitors to go the regions rather than stay just in the Reykjavik area.

Question 19

improving air quality in Reykjavik

Answer 19

• in 2019 adopted strict law that requires that fuel used by ships sailing within 12 nautical miles of its coast to contain no more than 0.1% sulfur
• Intends to force ships into using lighter, cleaner types of fuels