tourist site protection fund

Embracing powerful nature and fragile ecosystems

By anna maría bogadóttir.

Over the course of a few years, the number of annual visitors in Iceland grew from half a million to two million. While the rapid growth surely benefited the economy, it came hand in hand with signs of over-tourism, causing red alerts and closures of popular nature sites due to excessive intrusion. While creative landowners responded to the situation by becoming tourist operators, the government launched a series of official plans, funding schemes and other initiatives. The aim was to coordinate research and prepare to develop physical and human infrastructure that would ease access to and protect the primary attraction: Nature.

Icelandic nature and tourism

In flux between glaciers and volcanoes.

Iceland is a volcanic island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, 300 km east of Greenland and 900 km west of Norway. The Arctic Circle runs through the island of Grímsey, 40 km north of mainland Iceland. Due to Iceland’s location, north of the Central Atlantic, its nature and ecosystems are particularly fragile.

Interactive Map

The surface area is 103,000 km², but most of the 376 thousand inhabitants live close to the coastline, spanning over 500 km. The population density is four people per km². Iceland’s landscapes are shaped by the forces of nature, varying from snow-capped mountains and staggering waterfalls, deep fjords and valleys formed during the ice age to vast volcanic deserts, black sand beaches, gushing geysers, natural hot springs, and lava fields as far as the eye can see. About 10% of the land area is covered by receding glaciers. Scientists predict that they may largely vanish in the next 100-200 years, which will drastically change the landscape.[1] 

Iceland’s climate is subpolar oceanic, with cold winters and cool summers, although the winters are milder than in most places of similar latitude due to the Gulf Stream, which ensures a more temperate climate in Iceland’s coastal areas all year round. The Gulf Stream also results in abrupt and frequent weather shifts, which is why one may experience four seasons in one day. Iceland does not have a rainy season, but precipitation peaks from October to February, with the southern and western parts receiving the most rainfall. In the North, East and inland, there are colder winter temperatures but warmer summers and noticeably less snow and rain. Iceland’s most influential weather element is the varying types and degrees of wind.

The appeal and image of nature

For centuries, Iceland has been a destination for international scientists and artists aiming to study and experience volcanoes and glaciers as well as the Icelandic society and its culture. Fictive and real landscapes have served as the setting for narratives from Norse mythologies written in the 13th century, 18th-century travel journals, 19th and 20th-century adventure novels, and recent films such as Star Wars , James Bond, and Game of Thrones . Taken together, these narratives create a general idea of destination nature experiences, as is currently visually exhibited on Instagram and other digital platforms where the idea of the destination Iceland continues to be moulded by influencers.

Since the mid-twentieth century, Iceland has worked towards increasing the number of foreign visitors. It grew slowly during the 20th century up until the 1990s. A significant part of those who travelled to Iceland used to be experienced nature-lovers, geared with analogue maps and compasses, ready for camping and hiking in remote areas without any designated infrastructure. The visits grew steadily in the second half of the 20th century, with a total of four million foreign tourist arrivals from 1950 to 2000. After the economic meltdown in 2008, the Icelandic government increased its focus on tourism as a potential rescue line for foreign currency, with the Icelandic krona in free fall. Furthermore, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 put Iceland on the map by bringing flight travel to a halt in large parts of the world. Fearing a negative impact on the country’s growing tourism industry, Iceland launched the most extensive tourism campaign to that date, called “Inspired by Iceland”[2]. However, the campaign proved somewhat unnecessary, as the eruption significantly increased interest in Iceland as a destination. In addition, the drop in the local currency made Iceland a less expensive destination and thereby in reach for a larger group of visitors than before. Hence, the tourist surge following the Eyjafjallajökull eruption came hand in hand with export-led economic recovery plans emerging from the 2008 financial crisis. This resulted in exponential growth in the number of foreign visitors. Whereas tourism doubled between 1997 and 2007, the number of tourists grew 500% between 2010 and 2017, peaking at 2.5 million in 2018[3]. The sudden increase was followed by a slight decrease in 2019 and a sudden stop in 2020, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. A short sequence that could resemble a rollercoaster ride.

In spring 2021, the area of Geldingadalir metamorphosed into an accessible erupting volcano midway between Keflavik International Airport and the capital city of Reykjavik. Overnight, the priorly unknown area became a pilgrimage site for scientists and local and foreign visitors alike. Regularly on the news, geologists referred to measurements and monitoring to predict the future of the volcanic activities, all the while stressing that nature behaves in unpredictable and uncontrollable ways. In contrast, engineers presented their experiments and calculations for plans to control the lava flow. On one hand, nature was viewed as a force beyond human control, and on the other, a controllable phenomenon, a force to be tamed.

The right to nature and nature’s right

“The public is allowed to travel on the terrain and stay there for legitimate purposes. This right is accompanied by an obligation to take good care of the country’s nature,” states the nature conservation law stressing that people should show full consideration for the landowner and other right holders [...] and follow their guidelines and instructions regarding travel and handling around the country[4].  The nature conservation law also defines the different types of protected areas, including national parks, with the common purpose to preserve the nature of the area, allow the public to get to know and enjoy its nature and history, promote research and education about the area and strengthen economic activities in the vicinity of the national parks. There are 115 protected areas in Iceland, hereof three national parks, of which two are designated UNESCO Heritage Sites.

Þingvellir National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004, was initially established in 1928 when it became the first protected site in Iceland. Located in the southwestern part of Iceland, about 50 km from the capital, Reykjavík, Þingvellir National Park covers an area of 228 km²[5]. The history of Þingvellir, from the establishment of the Althing around 930, gives an insight into the spatial setting of the democratic forum of the Icelandic republic during the Viking Age, which, together with various natural phenomena, create a unique cultural landscape. From the settlement of Iceland, Þingvellir has been a destination for travellers and the site of national festivals. Originally, Icelanders travelled to Þingvellir to attend large feasts in relation to the annual parliamentary session. Now, it is amongst the most visited sites in Iceland, with service buildings, information centres, and an increasing number of constructed pathways and viewing platforms to enable access to different nature sites while protecting vegetation from the pressure of growing numbers of visitors.

Vatnajökull National Park is the second-largest national park in Europe, covering close to 14% of the total surface area of Iceland, including the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. It was established in 2007, merging a few previously protected sites into one. In 2019, Vatnajökull National Park was approved by the UNESCO World Heritage List, based on its unique nature and diverse landscapes created by the interplay of volcanic activity, geothermal energy, and streams with the glacier itself[6].

Snæfellsjökull National Park is located on the outskirts of Snæfellsnes in western Iceland. It is about 170 km² in size and the country’s first national park to reach the ocean.

In addition to the national parks, Reykjanes Geopark at the Reykjanes Peninsula and Katla Geopark in South Iceland have been included on the new UNESCO list of geoparks recognising “the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner”[7], in accord with the definition that “a UNESCO Global Geopark uses its geological heritage, in connection with all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society, such as using our earth’s resources sustainably, mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing natural disaster-related risks.”[8]

Fragile and life-threatening nature

Due to the sudden and immense growth in visitor numbers in the early 21st century, many natural sites in Iceland became significantly affected. Where the road system and the urban milieu escaped, the Icelandic host faced challenges greeting its guest, no longer a trained hiker, but nevertheless wandering in untouched landscapes, not aware of its danger nor fragility and unfamiliar with the codes of conduct known to the experienced hiker.

Along with nature protection rapid development of infrastructure had to be undertaken in order to accommodate travellers’ primordial needs when off the grid and to promote the security of visitors sometimes threatened by weather and site conditions. Small- and large-scale infrastructures were to be designed and constructed. Ranging from hiking paths, viewing platforms and natural spas to the construction of new hotels in the capital area and the expansion of the Keflavík International Airport. All the while, the previous local store in the village became a souvenir shop, and large shipments of rental cars came ashore to bring travellers out of the city and into nature.

Economic pressure and investment in small-scale infrastructure

In 2015, the tourist industry had become the most important export sector for Iceland, and in 2016, the share of tourism in GDP exceeded the share of fisheries which had previously been on top. The proportional importance of the tourism industry had become far greater than in most OECD countries [9]. Simultaneously, the travel period, previously mainly in the summer months, had been extended with increased winter tourism presenting other types of dangers and infrastructural needs than summer travel.

Facing rapid growth in tourism, Iceland increased its investments in small scale infrastructure. In 2011, The Tourist Site Protection Fund , hosted and serviced by The Icelandic Tourist Board, began its operations. The fund's purpose is “to promote the development, maintenance and protection of tourist sites and tourist routes throughout the country, thereby supporting the development of tourism as an important and sustainable pillar of the Icelandic economy. It also aims to promote a more even distribution of tourists throughout the country and to support regional development”[10].

More than 700 projects received funding from The Tourist Site Protection Fund between 2012 and 2020, amounting to around five and a half billion ISK. Contributions to the fund have increased significantly. In 2012, the fund had 69 million ISK at its disposal, but in 2020, the amount had grown to 700 million ISK. Initially the funded projects were mostly initiated by the state or municipalities but in recent years, projects by smaller parties, individual landowners and associations have increased considerably. Cooperation between private and public stakeholders on a regional level has gained more attention. In 2015, the Icelandic Tourist Board and the Tourism Task Force launched the development of Destination Management Plans (DMPs). Working towards coordination of development and aiming for management of flows in each region while strengthening regional initiatives.

As of now, The Tourist Site Protection Fund operates in three main focus areas. Firstly, nature protection and safety, focusing on projects related to nature conservation and visitor security. This can involve directional paths and platforms that guide visitors with the aim to regenerate and protect nature on the site. Secondly, the development of tourist attractions, favouring projects related to the development, construction and maintenance of built structures. And third, design and planning, such as changes to municipal plans, and design of foreseen development and construction. Projects can receive funding for design and planning and later another grant for construction. Initially, grants from the fund were mainly targeted to popular sites but there is increased emphasis on spreading the load by creating new magnets in less visited regions and to support regional development on the basis of destination plans. However, according to an evaluation report on the The Tourist Site Protection Fund, despite greatly increased budgets, there is still an urgent need for more investment [11].

National plan for the development of infrastructure for the protection of nature and cultural heritage

Since 2018, The Tourist Site Protection Fund has been reserved for projects owned or managed by municipalities and private parties. Projects on sites operated by the state, like national parks and preserved areas, receive funding from a national programme to develop infrastructure for the protection of nature and cultural heritage, a strategic twelve-year plan with a policy for infrastructure development on tourist sites and routes. The programme sets goals for site management and sustainable development, protection of nature and cultural heritage, security, planning and design, and tourist routes. A three-year project plan sets out proposals for concrete projects in parallel with the strategic plan.

The board behind the national programme includes representatives from four ministries and the Association of Icelandic Municipalities. In addition, from 2019 through 2021, there was an active Coordination Group with representatives from public institutions; three national parks, Icelandic Forest Service, The Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, The Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland, The Iceland Tourist Board, Icelandic Association of Local Authorities and Iceland Design and Architecture (ID&A). The group was assigned to define projects to promote professional knowledge, increase quality in design and coordinate the development of infrastructure to protect natural and cultural-historical monuments in tourist sites. ID&A, whose role is to facilitate and promote design as a vital aspect of the future of Icelandic society, economy and culture, was commissioned to pursue and implement some of the projects on behalf of the Coordination Group. These projects were gathered with other relevant projects, including the Nordic project Design in Nature , under the umbrella of Góðar leiðir , Good Paths. A platform for coordination and collaboration between different operators to facilitate access to toolboxes, guidelines, and instructions to project owners and operators. Among them an update of a coherent signage system, originally from 2011 Vegrún , a manual for construction of nature paths nature paths , and guidelines for planning procedures for tourist sites.

Additionally, the Coordination Group has commissioned educational programmes for nature regeneration and best practices in designing, planning, and constructing infrastructure in nature sites. The group’s formal mandate ran out in 2021 and it remains to define further measures of the initiative.

Beyond the tolerance level

“Nature is the main attraction of the Icelandic tourism industry, and systematic efforts are being made to protect it with stress management and sustainability as a guiding principle,” reads Vegvísir í ferðaþjónustu from 2015[12]. Looking back, it can nevertheless be said that the design and implementation of small-scale infrastructure as protection measures for nature came more as a reaction rather than a carefully thought-out plan. In 2015, somewhat in a state of emergency, Stjórnstöð ferðamála, the Iceland Tourism Management Board, was established as a temporary initiative aiming to get an overview of the situation and coordinate research to prepare for action. Focusing on coordination between different sectors, the management board coordinated research on tolerance limits, concentrating primarily on the number of tourists. The Iceland Tourism Management Board’s focus areas were defined as positive tourist experiences, reliable data, nature conservation, competence and quality, increased profitability, and branding Iceland as a tourist destination.

Measuring tools

Data collection on different sites has been facilitated with instruments that measure the number of visitors. Other official measuring initiatives include The Tourism Balance Sheet , an extensive measuring tool for regularly assessing the impact of tourism on the environment, infrastructure, society, and the economy. Initiated by the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation, the project was managed by the Icelandic Tourist Board and developed by EFLA Engineering together with consultants from Tourism Recreation & Conservation (TRC) from New Zealand and Recreation and Tourism Science (RTS) from the United States. The aim is to create the basis for policymaking and prioritising measures to increase coordination. Sustainability indicators were developed based on the tolerance limits of the environment, society, and the economy[13]. On a range of protected areas under official authority the assessment tool has been applied, facilitating the prioritisation of intervention and investment at a given site.  However, the defined parameters for measurement assess only the condition of structures and nature at a particular site. More qualitative and aesthetic assessment tools would be a valuable addition to the balance sheet at hand.

Official quality control system

One of the latest government initiatives in sustainable tourism promotion is Vörður, a holistic approach to destination management based on the French model, Réseau de grand sites de France, which defines the framework for destinations in Iceland that are considered unique nationally or globally. The project is managed by the Ministry of Tourism. The first destinations to start the process are Gullfoss, Geysir, Þingvellir National Park and Jökulsárlón. The ambition of establishing such a quality assessment system was initially set in Vegvísir fyrir ferðaþjónustu (Guidelines for tourism ) in 2015 [12].The plan is that by 2022, more sites, including privately owned tourist sites, can apply for assigned membership in the quality control system. Sites assigned with the label Vörður are seen as models for other destinations, fulfilling quality criteria in terms of management, supervision, organisation, facilities, services, nature conservation, safety and more. The sites must demonstrate a long-term commitment to implementing defined management and planning standards, including design, accessibility, education, security, load management and digital infrastructure.

Design traditions and local craftmanship

Infrastructure of an agricultural society becomes a framework of leisure for the urbanite.

Design tradition and local craftsmanship

Small-scale infrastructure in Icelandic nature reflects the geology of Iceland and ingenious use of local building materials, and a story of a nation shifting rapidly from an agricultural to an urban society in the wake of the 20th century. Abruptly, Icelanders were distanced from living with, in and off the land, growing a seed of longing of that exact nature for repose and experience.

Following the introduction of the first motorised fishing vessel at the beginning of the 20th century and the construction of a sturdy stone pier in Reykjavík, fishing replaced agriculture as the primary industry, keeping its status until the 21st century when the tourist industry took over. Revenues from the fishing industry set the stage for urbanisation throughout the 20th century, together with the birth of the Icelandic urbanite who no longer lived with nature but longed for it. Accordingly, a new perception of nature appears in the artworks and literature of the early 20th century, portraying nature as something beautiful and even sublime, yet distant. The prints of artworks by the “Icelandic masters”, framing the solemnity of nature, ended up on a wall in the living room of a new apartment of sons and daughters of nature who now lived in the city.

Until the 20th century, turf farms were the characteristic habitat of Iceland, nestled in the landscape, leaning from the wind with thick earth walls creating good insulation. The grass roofs grew naturally from the landscape, creating small hills as seen from the exterior perspective. In the early 20th century, concrete became Iceland's local building material. Hence, the texture of the built environment jumped directly from earth to concrete, made of volcanic sand abundant in the estuaries and beaches along the coast.

In parallel with urbanisation in the 20th century, outdoor leisure activities grew steadily with a surge in hiking, mountain skiing, recreational fishing, and bathing. In the 1920s, the first outdoor hut to support leisure activities in nature was built in Lækjarbotnar, close to Þingvellir. Iceland Touring Association (FÍ) was founded in 1927. Today, the association runs 40 mountain huts across Iceland, mainly along the most popular hiking trails.

As part of a swimming education movement in the first decades of the 20th century, local communities in many areas constructed local and outdoor swimming pools, often close to hot water sources that previous generations had bathed in. Weathered and sensitive structures from history, these pools have later attracted travellers and later, at times, excessive intrusion and damage like in the examples of Seljavallalaug and Hrunalaug. 

Cairns, conical structures of stacked stones laid decades and even centuries ago, still serve as signposts in Icelandic landscapes where people have wandered since the island’s settlement. Together, the cairns in the open landscape create negative lines indicating old routes for hikers and horse-riders, travelling with goods and running errands in all weather in the agricultural society, usually taking the shortest route over hills and mountains between the distant farms. Apart from guiding the way, the cairns would serve as information infrastructure, as wanderers would sometimes leave notes between the rocks, a poem, a gentle word on how to proceed, what to be aware of, or what to look for. The type of stones used for these conical structures varies from area to area, from old basalt rock in the east and west to younger lava stones in areas on top of the Mid-Atlantic-Ridge, which lies underneath Iceland from the southwest through the northeast – demarking the zones of volcanic activity. This variety of building materials and building techniques is also found in other historic structures like trails, pathways, steps, walls, and fences laid by different stones, with local versions in each part of the country.  The differences are explained by specific knowledge passed on through local craftsmanship and the natural material palette depending on the geological formation of each area. Along the old routes, there were huts built to shelter wanderers and farmers herding sheep from the highlands before the first snow. Like all other habitats, these huts were initially built of local material, mixing stone, rock, and earth with wood, which was scarce and therefore used sparsely and thoughtfully. A built lesson in sustainable design and building methods that warrants further study to unleash its potential in relation to future design in nature.

Current designs and future visions

Pristine nature, now with full service.

The twenty-first century has given Icelandic natural landscapes a new purpose as part of a recreational itinerary and experience of the global citizen welcoming the open invitation to seek temporary physical and mental recovery from the hazy urban world. Therefore, tourism has instigated new forms of urbanisation in remote areas and natural landscapes that can be observed through urban interdependencies within Iceland and beyond. As a result, the typical traveller in Iceland is no longer the experienced nature hiker but someone interested in experiencing nature while enjoying and valuing full service. Interestingly, although previously intact landscapes are now boosted with man-made infrastructures like trails, fences, signs, and poles, they still appear pristine and untouched in the eyes of the visitor[16].

Step by step and social cohesion

Tourism has presented new challenges regarding versatility and social cohesion concerning the design and planning of public spaces - where landscapes configure the ultimate space for the public and wildlife. The villages around the coastline have a new role to fulfil as service centres and gateways to the Icelandic wilderness and animal habitats. This role brings about new social and economic potential as well as challenges for municipalities that need to accommodate a growing number of visitors, all while mediating their smooth interaction with nature and wildlife.

When at its best, infrastructure that serves tourism serves the whole society by promoting the well-being and prosperity of the inhabitants. Examples of infrastructure improvements serving both locals and visitors include Borgarfjörður Eystri Visitor Centre. It’s an initiative that grew out of a humble viewing platform in Hafnarhólmi, a summer habitat of puffins, honorary yet temporary inhabitants of Borgarfjörður Eystri, greeted ceremonially upon their arrival in spring. The modest timber platform and stairs have now spun off a 300 m² multifunctional visitor centre that provides a framework for various activities for tourists, fishermen and residents of the village. The visitor centre that was built in concrete came about after the municipality entered into a collaboration with the Architectural Association in formulating goals and emphasis in a competition brief. In fact, design competitions have been increasingly used as a tool to develop popular tourist sites. Examples include Borgarfjörður Eystri and Baugur in the East, Bolafjall in the west and Leiðarhöfði in the south, all projects that are yet to be completed. All these projects have been initiated by small municipalities with the aim to enable access to and enhance experiences in natural environments. A complex and multifaceted endeavour where design competitions are a way for locals, landowners and municipalities of all sizes to engage with professional design communities. Design competition preparations can be facilitated by grants from The Tourist Site Protection Fund. However, they still demand long-term engagement, professional capacity, and funds from the project owner to achieve an ambitious vision, described in a competition brief, through projection.

Since 2018, the majority of projects supported by The Tourist Site Protection Fund have been initiated by locals where the landowner or municipality has coordinated and prepared for planning, design, and construction. In many cases, these are ingenious and well implemented projects while in others further guidance and expertise and even direct involvement of third parties would have been necessary. There is an evident need for applicable tools and access to expertise in design and more aspects of a nature site intervention as well as further financing for construction and maintenance of structures where the project owner can range from an individual, to a large municipality.

Protecting, bathing and weathering

Since ancient times, Icelanders not only swam, they also bathed in geothermal waters from natural sources and created hot tubs to dip in, close to their dwellings. The Guðlaug Baths project derives in part from a rich local ocean-swimming culture in the coastal town Akranes. The baths are nestled in the rocky barrier by the sand beach, which protects the village from the breakwater. As such, the baths form part of a functional protection structure as well as an aesthetical and recreational structure that has made Akranes, a few kilometres off the Ring Road, a worthwhile destination. Another example is Hrunalaug, a historic bathing infrastructure that has shown to be a popular attraction. Located on private property, the owners did not plan for visitors and have faced challenges in protecting the historic infrastructure and its surroundings from harmful intrusion. Hrunalaug is an example of vernacular design, of organic nature, and local materials that need constant mending and maintenance. An overview of the funding allocations shows that many projects receive repeated funding for maintenance and reparations, which raises questions of durability and an eventual need to promote resilient design strategies that take weathering forces better into account.

Durable design for safety and sensation

Since its establishment in 2011, safety has been a top priority for The Tourist Site Protection Fund. Ever since the first rescue squad was formed in Iceland in 1918, following frequent sea accidents and injuries along the shores, Icelandic rescue teams have put themselves on the scales to ensure public safety in Icelandic landscapes. With the increased number of foreign visitors, the volunteers in the Icelandic rescue teams have frequently headed out to help travellers under difficult, even life-threatening circumstances. Safetravel is a privately initiated and publicly-funded accident prevention project run by Landsbjörg, the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue. The aim is to provide information to travellers and various services to limit risky behaviour, prevent accidents, and promote safe travel around the country.

Brimketill is a water experience project. An iron platform invites visitors to stand in the gushing waves, promoting safety by keeping visitors away from the slippery rocks. Brimketill is one of many examples of structures designed to respond to a demanding environment. Although the metal structure withstands the waves, the natural path toward the platform needs regular repair and maintenance due to the constant onslaught of the ocean waves, again pointing toward the necessity of robust and resilient structures.

Flexibility for landscapes in constant movement

In a context of constantly changing landscapes with sensational national phenomena like volcanoes and geysers that can gush and erupt when and where no one expects, the flexibility of strategies and structures is essential. Constructed stair at Saxhóll crater in Snæfellsnes and the systemic project hovering trails , which have been installed at Hveradalir (Hot Spring Valley), are both elevated from the ground. The aim is to minimise contact with the ground and protect nature from intrusion.  While the stairs at Saxhóll crater can be removed without consderable trace, the hovering trails are designed for movability with a modular design that enables easy disassembly and reassembly. The trails can be adapted to the movements in the landscape, and in the event of an earthquake, the structure is designed to withstand pressure, even if some of the individual pillars might break[17].

Contested notion of access

Previously many coastal areas were only accessible by water. Vast areas of Iceland remain intact, and large parts of the inlands are only accessible during the peak of the summer months. A study from 2013 showed that 43% of Europe’s wilderness is in Iceland (xxx). Currently, there are contested views on whether remote areas in the highlands should be made more accessible for cars or, rather, left in the current state in order to protect them and allow for peaceful visits of hikers. According to the management and protection plan of Vatnajökull National Park, certain areas have been closed for car access, favouring the nature experience of hikers and other visitors. 

Location-specific measurements of visitor numbers in Vatnajökull National Park show that the increase in visitors is site-specific within the park. Visits in areas close to road access and facilities increased, while the more remote areas remain reserved for the few[17]. This points toward the importance of site-specific approaches, scalability and a careful approach to each site. Some sites and areas would benefit from more built structures, while others might benefit from initiatives designed to reduce the need for infrastructure. And even removal of infrastructures that ease access to the given spot of the given site.

Network of connected points

One of the assessment criteria of The Tourist Site Protection Fund is the location of a site in relation to the local Destination Management Plan. Coordinated destination management with appropriate design for different sites can limit conflicts between different stakeholders, which is one of the focus areas of the Tourism Balance Sheet when measuring the tolerance limits of the local society.

A growing trend is to approach destinations as points in a network forming circuits that demand holistic design strategies for the assembly of different sites and their spatial and narrative interrelationship. A story that becomes the foundation for the marketing of an area with connected sites. The oldest and most visited circuit is the Golden Circle in southern Iceland, covering about 300 kilometres, with the primary sites Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and Þingvellir National Park. The Golden Circle had close to 2 million visitors in 2019. Other and more recent circuits are the Diamond Circle in North Iceland, with the primary sites of lake Mývatn, Ásbyrgi Canyon, Dettifoss waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park and Goðafoss waterfall. 

The project that received the highest grant from The Tourist Site Protection Fund in 2021 was a network project in the vicinity of the Vatnajökull glacier initiated by Hornafjörður Municipality. A walking and cycling path between Svínafell and the national park in Skaftafell is to be designed and constructed in collaboration between local stakeholders. The so-called glacier route will connect the service and residential core of the area to reuse existing path structures, which will be restored and relinked. The project accords with the destination management plan of South Iceland.

Scalability

The accessibility to different sites on the above-mentioned circuits varies. In the case of the Diamond Circle, Goðafoss waterfall is by the central Ring Road, while some of the attractions inside of Vatnajökull National Park are more remote and have hitherto been accessible only during summer. The expected number of visitors all year round promoted in the destination management plan demands on sturdy infrastructure, which has already been put in place in Goðafoss in accord with local inhabitants. On the other hand, large-scale interventions into the landscapes of Vatnajökull National Park have been contested. The implementation of destination management plans and the launch of marketing campaigns for whole areas must be linked to a more refined design strategy for edge destinations on the circuits that warrant further work. Protection measures for lesser-known hidden gems in the vicinity of the main circuits must be in place before promoting them to a larger audience.

More cross-collaboration is needed Although there are signs of increased coordination between different agents involved in tourism, future scenarios are often drawn up solely by representatives of a defined tourism industry without involvement of members of the design or art community, nature protection, scholars, and the like. Furthermore, apart from the coordination group for the National Plan for Infrastructure, active between 2019 and 2021, officially established steering groups are often involved in isolated issues. One with a focus on tourism, another on planning and protection of natural and cultural heritage, and a third focused on design. And so forth. Thus, policy and planning work in the realm of tourism in Iceland circulates in an established tourist industry where increased numbers seem to be the principal success criteria, which goes hand in hand with plans put in force in order to limit negative impact on society and environment. In accordance with the Icelandic government’s focus on increasing foreign visitor arrivals, there have been diverse branding initiatives from the official promotional office of Iceland. Many of these initiatives have aimed to extend the travel period around the country, with campaigns instigating winter tourism and distributing visits around the country. However, more coordination is required between those who invite the visitors and those who host and greet the visitors; a plethora of private and public agents that partake in creating links on a chain of infrastructure, facilities and sites that need to be prepared for the influx of visitors all year round. Further, all sustainable tourism should preferably be aimed at and designed for the domestic traveller and the local as well as the foreign visitor, encouraging everyone‘s responsible and enriching engagement with nature, promoting health and quality of life for all.

Collaborating by means of design

Although site-specific conditions demand site-specific solutions, Iceland has been facing challenges that are well-known categorically and have already been dealt with elsewhere. Sharing experience through Nordic collaboration is highly valuable in this respect. A Nordic network could advance the development of a Nordic set of design principles that would form a basis for a Nordic Policy of Design as a tool to promote valuable nature experiences without harmful nature intrusion. However, it is through physical interventions, designed, built and maintained, that we eventually learn. In a quest for sustainable performance of built structures, innovative attitude and state-of the-art knowledge of design should be promoted. Nordic collaboration that facilitates room for experimentation and research on a range of aspects like how design can augment experience of nature by inviting the engagement of the senses, or how design strategies can further robustness against weathering forces, would be valuable.

To increase efficiency and resilience, it is essential to work comprehensively and collectively with more cross-sector, cross-country and cross-border collaboration where design is not end-of-pipe. The potential of design in the context of sustainable tourism lies in part in strategic design. Inherent holistic thinking and aesthetic considerations, the agility and potential of design to create links between lessons from the past and the needs of the future. The applicability of design processes to work with scenarios of movement and human interaction with its surroundings are all methods that can be applied more systematically when it comes to decision-making to prepare for interventions in natural environments. Further, acknowledging that every species has an equal right to thrive on earth, artists, designers, and scholars are paving the way with an empathic and personal approach. Instigating a change from a human-centred to a nature-centred approach. Sustaining sensitive ecosystems by prioritising their protection and regeneration. An essential part of this ideological change, to be followed through in action, is to allow for people’s engagement with and connection to nature. Therefore, design and design strategies that promote and provide tools for responsible engagement with nature is invaluable.

Notes 1 Halldór Björnsson, Bjarni D. Sigurðsson, Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, Jón Ólafsson, Ólafur S. Ástþórsson, Snjólaug Ólafsdóttir, Trausti Baldursson, Trausti Jónsson. 2018. Loftslagsbreytingar og áhrif þeirra á Íslandi – Skýrsla vísindanefndar um loftslagsbreytingar 2018. Veðurstofa Íslands.  https://www.vedur.is/media/loftslag/Skyrsla-loftslagsbreytingar-2018-Vefur-NY.pdf 2 Gunnar Þór Jóhannesson & Katrín Anna Lund. Áfangastaðir í stuttu máli . Háskólaútgáfan & félagsvísindasvið Háskóla Íslands, Reykjavík  2021. 3 Hagstofa Íslands. (2003–2018) Farþegar um Keflavíkurflugvöll eftir ríkisfangi og árum 2003–201 8. https://px.hagstofa.is/pxis/pxweb/is/Atvinnuvegir/Atvinnuvegir__ferdathjonusta__farthegar/SAM0206. px" \h 4 Lög um náttúruvernd nr. 60/2013. https://www.althingi.is/lagas/nuna/2013060.html 5 Þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum stefnumörkun 2018-2034. https://www.thingvellir.is > um þjóðgarðinn > stefnumörkun Þingvallanefndar > https://www.thingvellir.is/media/1754/a1072-023-u02-stefnumorkun-vefur.pdf 6 Snorri Baldursson. Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður, gersemi á heimsvísu. JPV útgáfa 2021. 7 Unesco. https://en.unesco.org/global-geoparks 8 Ibid. 9 Íris Hrund Halldórsdóttir. Ferðaþjónusta á Íslandi og Covid 19. Staða og greining fyrirliggjandi gagna. Ferðamálastofa. 2021. https://www.ferdamalastofa.is/static/files/ferdamalastofa/Frettamyndir/2021/juli/seigla-i-ferdathjonustu-afangaskyrsla-rmf-juli-2021-m-forsidu.pdf 10 Lög um Framkvæmdasjóð ferðamannastaða 75/2011. https://www.althingi.is/lagas/nuna/2011075.html 11 Atvinnuvega- og nýsköpunarráðuneytið. Skýrsla ferðamála-, iðnaðar og nýsköpunarráðherra um stöðu og þróun Framkvæmdasjóðs ferðamannastaða. Atvinnuvega- og nýsköpunarráðuneytið 2021. https://www.ferdamalastofa.is/static/files/ferdamalastofa/Frettamyndir/2021/januar/210111-atvinnuvegaraduneytid-framkvaemdasjodur-ferdamanna-v6.pdf 12 Atvinnu- og nýsköpunarráðuneytið. Vegvísir í ferðaþjónustu. https://www.ferdamalastofa.is/static/files/ferdamalastofa/tolur_utgafur/Skyrslur/vegvisir_2015.pdf 13 Stjórnarráð Íslands. https://www.stjornarradid.is/default.aspx?pageid=0e00328a-0ec4-492b-97f6-f32d41b2fd25#Tab0 14 Snorri Baldursson. Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður, gersemi á heimsvísu. JPV útgáfa 2021. 15 Anna María Bogadóttir. “Water as Public Greenspace: A Remotely Urban Perspective on Iceland” in Green Visions: Greenspace Planning and Design in Nordic Cities, Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing, Stockholm 2021. 16 Gunnar Þór Jóhannesson & Katrín Anna Lund. Áfangastaðir í stuttu máli . Háskólaútgáfan & félagsvísindasvið Háskóla Íslands, Reykjavík  2021. 17 Hovering trails. https://www.hoveringtrails.com 18 Snorri Baldursson. Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður, gersemi á heimsvísu. JPV útgáfa 2021. 19 Norðurstrandaleið. https://www.arcticcoastway.is/en/about/about

Bibliography, anna maría bogadóttir. “water as public greenspace: a remotely urban perspective on iceland” in green visions: greenspace planning and design in nordic cities, arvinius + orfeus publishing, stockholm 2021. anna dóra sæþórsdóttir et al.  þolmörk ferðamennsku í þjóðgarðinum í skaftafelli. ferðamálaráð íslands, háskóli íslands, háskólinn á akureyri, 2001. downloaded from: https://www.ferdamalastofa.is/static/files/upload/files/skaftafell.pdf . gunnar þór jóhannesson & katrín anna lund. áfangastaðir í stuttu máli . háskólaútgáfan & félagsvísindasvið háskóla íslands, reykjavík 2021. halldór björnsson, bjarni d. sigurðsson, brynhildur davíðsdóttir, jón ólafsson, ólafur s. ástþórssson, snjólaug ólafsdóttir, trausti baldursson, trausti jónsson. 2018. loftslagsbreytingar og áhrif þeirra á íslandi – skýrsla vísindanefndar um loftslagsbreytingar 2018. veðurstofa íslands. downloaded from: https://www.vedur.is/media/loftslag/skyrsla-loftslagsbreytingar-2018-vefur-ny.pdf íris hrund halldórsdóttir. ferðaþjónusta á íslandi og covid 19. staða og greining fyrirliggjandi gagna. ferðamálastofa 2021. íslensk ferðaþjónusta samstarfsverkefni kpmg, ferðamálastofu og stjórnstöðvar ferðamála — október 2020 sviðsmyndir um starfsumhverfi ferðaþjónustunnar á komandi misserum stjórnstöð ferðamála. downloaded from: https://home.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/is/pdf/2020/10/svidsmyndir-um-framtid-ferdathjonustunnar-10-2020.pdf landsbankinn. hlutur ferðaþjónustu í landsframleiðslu í fyrsta sinn meiri en sjávarútvegs [the share of tourism in gdp for the first time greater than fishing industry]. hagsjá - þjóðhagsreikningar. landsbankinn 2018. lög um framkvæmdasjóð ferðamannastaða 75/2011. lög um náttúruvernd nr. 60/2013 snorri baldursson. vatnajökulsþjóðgarður, gersemi á heimsvísu. jpv útgáfa 2021. vegvísir í ferðaþjónustu. atvinnuvega- og nýsköpunarráðuneytið og samtök ferðaþjónustunnar 2015. downloaded from: https://www.ferdamalastofa.is/static/research/files/vegvisir_2015-pdf, author information.

Anna María Bogadóttir, [email protected]

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Expert overviews from the Nordic countries that together give insights into tradition, trends and future visions for design in nature in the Nordic region.

The national overviews identify the potential of design in nature from a wide angle and indicate how particular solutions come about strategically in light of site-specific challenges — portraying the formal and informal framework of protection, collaboration, and financial and planning structures.

Each national overview is presented in three chapters: i / characteristics of nature and tourism ii / design traditions and local craftsmanship iii / current trends and future visions

Tourism in Iceland

Jump to a section.

The initiative

The challenge

The public impact

• Stakeholder engagement Good
• Political commitment Good
• Clarity of objectives Strong
• Strength of evidence Strong
• Feasibility Strong
• Management Strong
• Measurement Good
• Alignment Strong

Bibliography

In May 2012, PKF International was commissioned by Promote Iceland to carry out a master mapping project for the Icelandic tourism industry and to establish its foreign direct investment potential. It had the following objectives:

• To increase the profitability of the tourism industry.
• To engage in systematic development of tourist destinations, effective product development, and promotion and advertising work so as to create the opportunity to lengthen the tourist season, reduce seasonal fluctuations, and encourage tourists to travel throughout the country.
• To enhance the quality, professionalism, safety, and environment awareness of the tourism sector.
• To define and maintain Iceland's uniqueness as a tourist destination, in part through effective analysis and research.
• To create a platform for the government and tourism industry stakeholders to formulate a long-term strategy.

A new Tourist Control Centre has been established to coordinate operation and work out ways in extensive cooperation all over the country for an industry that is very complex, and which is under the administration of four ministers.

In order to study the tourism industry, several steps were undertaken, including:

• Conducting a limited international tour operator survey to build on existing travel surveys
• Evaluating the key geographic source markets and segments and identifying potential opportunities.
• Formulating a ten-year vision with clear targets.
• Specifying the institutional framework and tourism policy requirements.
• Preparing an annual monitoring and evaluating the grid to enable the Icelandic tourism industry to monitor the progress of the implementation of the long-term strategy.
• Preparing an indicative annual budget.

Stakeholder engagement

Political commitment

The Icelandic government is generally supportive of tourism in Iceland:

• It set up the Tourist Site Protection Fund, which supports the development and maintenance of infrastructure that protects nature at frequently visited attractions and at new sites.  [2]
• The Icelandic Tourist Board works in close co-operation with governmental agencies, municipalities and legislators.

Clarity of objectives

Strength of evidence

To understand the requirements of the tourism industry, surveys and SWOT analysis was undertaken. The Tourism Strategy Group was replaced with the Tourism Council, to implement the policy, as recommended by the OECD.

In 2012, PKF team conducted surveys with 22 visitors, who were from from the UK, USA, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Austria, Japan and Switzerland. The purpose of the survey was to understand the visitor experiences and perceptions at first hand, rather than to undertake a comprehensive analysis. It was found that Iceland is more expensive than its Nordic competitors, mainly due to the high cost of flights and car hire.

Feasibility

To expand the tourism industry in Iceland, many approaches were undertaken to test the feasibility of the policy. Surveys were conducted, funding mechanisms were reviewed, and environment and social carrying capacity were taken into consideration.

A development fund for tourism, national parks and protected areas is to be established with the revenue levied from tourist taxes. Funding mechanisms were also reviewed to close the funding gap for infrastructure at tourist sites. Environmental and capacity concerns were taken into consideration, to establish which tourist destinations in each region required better access and traffic management.

On the basis of an agreement made between the Icelandic government, the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities, and the Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF), the Tourism Task Force was set up, which will continue in operation until the end of 2020.

The Tourism Task Force consists of four cabinet ministers, four representatives of the tourism industry, and two municipal representatives. The Task Force follows the Road Map for Tourism and its managing director draws talent from Iceland and abroad to address the most pressing priorities in the tourism industry.

It will ensure that the next five years are used to lay the solid foundations that are needed by the Icelandic tourism industry. The Task Force's function is to coordinate measures and find solutions in collaboration with government and municipalities, as well as the support the framework for growing tourism throughout the country.

Measurement

Performance measurement is based on the goals achieved in a particular year. These statistics are maintained and published by the Icelandic Tourist Board.

It is evident, however, that Promote Iceland and the Tourist Board need to adopt a robust approach to monitoring and evaluating the performance of the tourism industry on a regular basis, in close co-operation with Statistics Iceland and the Tourism Research Centre.

There is extensive cooperation between stakeholders and the government, as in the formation of the Tourism Task Force.

There is a steering group within the Task Force of public, private and other stakeholders which meets monthly and is chaired by the minister for industry and commerce. It also includes representatives from:

• Other Icelandic ministries that are relevant to tourism (finance, the environment, and the foreign office)
• Private firms (represented by industry associations, etc)
• Other tourism organisations (e.g., travel agents)

The steering group tracks progress, resolves issues, allocates roles to sector entities and takes decisions, as appropriate. The group's staff are responsible for such tasks as managing coordination between sector stakeholders and providing operational support for nature funds. There has, overall, been extensive cooperation between municipalities, travel agents and other authorities in formulating policy.

Tourism in Iceland in Figures, April 2014, Icelandic Tourist Board

Environmental Performance Reviews, Highlights 2014 , OECD

Iceland 2020 - governmental policy statement for the economy and community Knowledge, sustainability, welfare

The Public Impact Fundamentals - A framework for successful policy

This case study has been assessed using the Public Impact Fundamentals, a simple framework and practical tool to help you assess your public policies and ensure the three fundamentals - Legitimacy, Policy and Action are embedded in them.

Learn more about the Fundamentals and how you can use them to access your own policies and initiatives.

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Over seven million people visit "La Joconde," or the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci at the Louvre Museum in Paris each year.

Overtourism: too much of a good thing

The global tourism boom isn’t slowing down. What can travelers do to keep things in balance and aid in sustainability?

Reykjavík isn’t what it used to be. The Icelandic capital’s main shopping street, Laugavegur, now belongs to tourism. Shops bill themselves in English, not Icelandic: Icemart, Chuck Norris Grill, a “Woolcano” gift shop. A lone hardware store has survived the wave of touristification.

The term “ overtourism ”—too many tourists—has been moving from travel-industry jargon into the mainstream, propelled by such flash points as Venice , Amsterdam , and Barcelona , where exasperated locals unfurled “TOURIST GO HOME” banners in 2017.

The phenomenon is global and has even reached chilly, expensive Iceland—a relative newcomer to travelers’ bucket lists. Travel media have affixed the overtourism label not just to Reykjavík but to the whole country. So when I arrive after eight years away, I am apprehensive. How bad will it be? And how can travelers be part of the solution, not part of the problem? [Find amazing alternatives to destinations experiencing overtourism.]

I first explored Iceland as a recent college grad in 1973, entranced by vast scenery, the modern culture with its Old Norse language, and the in-your-face volcanic geology. I kept coming back, making my previous visit in 2010, right before the tourism boom. By 2017, Iceland was drawing over two million visitors annually—six times its national population.

The Blue Lagoon may be one of Iceland’s most popular attractions, but author Jonathan Tourtellot says it’s actually the one place in Iceland he’s not worried about. “It’s entirely artificial, well managed, handy to the airport, and expensive,” he says.

When does such a fast-rising tide become an unacceptable tsunami? For Icelanders who are not making money from tourism—and even for those who are—overtourism means disruption to their lives and their city. “The Reykjavík center is all hotels and Airbnbs now,” says my friend Ingibjörg Eliasdóttir. “Downtown is out of hand. Real estate prices have gone up so high that students can’t afford to live here anymore.”

The tourism flood would have arrived sooner or later. The number of international trips taken each year worldwide has gone from some 25 million in the 1950s, right before the commercial jet age began, to 1.3 billion in 2017. International arrivals are projected to reach a possible three billion by 2050. Yet the sights and places all these people visit remain the same size.

Causes of the tourism surge reportedly range from easier border crossings and cheap regional carriers to subsidized airline fuel and Airbnb, which increases a destination’s accommodations capacity. Look deeper, though, and you find three powerful trends. First, Earth’s population has nearly tripled since the 1950s, when mass tourism was just getting started. Second, affluence is growing even faster, with the world’s middle class expected to reach 4.2 billion by 2022. Third, technological changes from GPS and social media to wide-body jets and towering cruise ships carrying town-size populations have revolutionized travel.

I once complained to the CEO of a major cruise line about how each ship disgorges thousands of passengers into the confined medieval streets of Dubrovnik , Croatia . “Don’t people have a right to visit Dubrovnik?” he countered. Perhaps, but when people keep arriving in groups of 3,000, it profoundly changes a place.

Airlines can boost heavy traffic as well. Icelandair’s free-stopover offers put hundreds of tourists daily on the accessible Golden Circle route, which takes in the historic site of Thingvellir, the Gullfoss waterfall, and geothermal Geysir. The first two are large enough to handle several hundred visitors, but compact Geysir shows signs of overtourism—trash, overcrowding, and a tourist-trap sprawl mall right across the road.

• Nat Geo Expeditions

This fast-growing mass travel poses real threats to natural and cultural treasures. Wear and tear on fragile sites is one issue. So is cultural disruption for local people. And visitors receive a degraded experience. [Discover 6 ways to be a more sustainable traveler.]

Pressure for change comes less from tourists than from locals and preservationists. Officials in Barcelona, one of the world’s busiest cruise ports, have promised tighter controls on mass tourism, short-term apartment rentals, hotel development, and other challenges. Dubrovnik has plans to restrict the number of ships that can dock. Italy ’s Cinque Terre has put limits on hikers. Amsterdam is focusing on tourist redistribution techniques. In Asia , where tourism growth is rampant, governments have closed entire islands to allow recovery, such as on overbuilt Boracay in the Philippines and overtrodden Koh Tachai in Thailand . As for Iceland, the government has launched a Tourist Site Protection Fund, and Reykjavík has banned permits for new hotel construction downtown.

The low sun casts long shadows, revealing the magnitude of the crowd size around the Strokkur Geyser in Iceland.

Destination stakeholders are not the only ones who can take action. What can a smart traveler do?

Adopt a wise-travel mindset.

When you arrive in a place, you become part of that place. Where you go, what you do, how you spend, whom you talk to: It all makes a difference. Try to get out of the tourist bubble and see how locals live. Treat every purchase as a vote. In Iceland, María Reynisdóttir of the national tourism bureau suggests looking for the official quality label Vakinn when buying souvenirs or booking lodgings.

Avoid peak times.

Hit museums and sights early, before crowds arrive. Avoid peak seasons as well. [Visit the world's best museums.]

Stay in homes.

Booking an Airbnb listing with a friendly host can add depth to your stay, but avoid hosts who peddle multiple units bought just for short-term rentals. That practice can boost property values beyond what locals can afford.

Tell tourism authorities what you think. They worry about reputation. Post online reviews about whether you think the destination is doing a good job of managing tourism.

Earth is a big place, and much of it is still undervisited. In Iceland this past August, my wife and I headed north to see where a sign-posted route called the Arctic Coast Way will open in June 2019. Here, far from Reykjavík and well beyond the tour buses relentlessly plying Route 1, we drive past fjords touched by fingers of fog and mountainsides laced with waterfalls.

Just short of the Arctic Circle we stop at the Guest-house Gimbur, empty except for us. “Mid-August is the end of the season,” explains our hostess, Sjöfn Guðmundsdóttir. Relaxing in her hot tub, watching a lingering sunset at the southernmost reaches of the Arctic Ocean, I reflect on something else she said: “Slow tourism is my motto.” It can be yours too.

Related Topics

• SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
• HIGHWAYS AND ROADS

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Exploring tourism taxation as a method to fund a regenerative future

By Melissa Baird, Communication and Brand Consultant, The GDS-Movement

When COVID-19 turned the world of tourism upside-down, tax relief or cancellation was introduced with the intention of assisting the industry. As the discussions began on how to ‘build back better,’ a key question remains on how a regenerative future can be funded.  Could well-designed tourism taxes be part of the answer?

This is the starting point of a newly published White Paper, Tourism Taxes by Design , which explores how tourism taxation can be designed to support recovery and the long-term development of a more resilient and regenerative tourism economy.

The white paper explores the different kinds of tourism-related taxes, the existing models and revenue flows already in place and their impact, including further research into the current funding situation of destination organisations (DMOs) in Europe. Twenty-one out of thirty European countries have implemented tax, levies and duties on travel and tourism services that offer multiple examples and models where tourism tax revenue is used to invest in sustainable tourism development. 

As we prepare for recovery, what can we learn from those destinations who are leveraging tourism taxes as a model to create a more sustainable , resilient future?

What role can tourism taxes play in supporting a destination?

Whilst researching for the white paper, we grouped the tourism tax models used under one of seven different headings, sorted from the most commonly seen models through to the gold star standards of regenerative tourism taxation:

Exploring the different taxation designs and models, it is clear that there is no one size fits all solution, although most of the tourism-related taxes have an element of regulatory design. While tourism  taxation has generally been perceived as the ‘elephant in the room,’ the white paper research shows that the perceived negative impacts on demand and competitiveness are rather marginal. Furthermore, consumers are inclined to be more willing to pay taxes if there is transparent reinvestment of the tax revenue for ear-marked “good purposes” (sustainability, local community, cultural and natural preservation).

Best practice examples of tourism tax models from around the world

Barcelona: addressing the cost of tourism.

Barcelona is a world leader in tourism policy design and regulation. Since 2012, the city has received €72.7M in tax revenues which have been used on destination management , promotion and development. The city government seems conscious that tourism is not just a benefit, but also in some respects a burden for the destination.

Since the creation of the tax, tourist activity in Barcelona has continued its steady growth curve from 7,1 million guests in the hotels in 2013 to 9,5 million in 2019 according to Statista. Early estimates of Barcelona study indicate that tourism tax revenue covers between 13% and 29% of tourism related expenditure.

Austin, Texas: Funding development and resilience

In 2019 in Austin, Texas, the City Council approved a “live music fund” from the city’s hotel occupancy tax. Fifteen percent of the occupancy tax revenue will be directed to the local commercial music community, while another 15% is to be directed to historic preservation. The remaining 70% is to be directed to the Austin Convention Center.

New Zealand: Tourism taxes to ensure sustainable tourism growth:

On the website, it is clearly stated that tourism  tax serves the purpose of making “sure” that New Zealanders' lives are enriched by sustainable tourism growth. It will do this by “investing in projects that will substantively change the tourism system, helping to create productive, sustainable and inclusive tourism growth that protects and supports our environment.”  The funds are guided by an advisory group that meets three times a year with expertise and experience across the industry, in tourism investment, in conservation, and in environmental matters.

Slovenia: For industry and destination resilience

In January 2019, Slovenia added an additional “promotion tax” to the existing tourist tax. The amount of the promotion tax is 25% of the tourist tax and is intended for planning and implementation of marketing and promotion of Slovenia. The revenue of the tax goes to the Slovenian Tourist Board.

Levering tourism taxes for place regeneration

Though not as prevalent there are quite a few examples of tourism tax models designed to fund  destination development or for broader environmental and community purposes. This taxation’s purpose is regenerative because it is a mechanism to ensure that destinations can generate shared value from tourism and give back to the local communities.

According to OECD, there has been significant increase in the number of taxes with an environmental focus, designed to encourage environmentally positive behaviour change from operators and tourists, or to provide funding to better manage the environmental or otherwise negative impacts of tourism activities.

In regenerative tax models, revenue can be used for infrastructure, community projects, restoration or investment in local culture, nature preservation, education or social projects.

Iceland: Taxes for protection of nature

In recent years, there has been political debate in Iceland over introduction of new taxes to curb the exponential growth in visitor numbers to the country.

Seven design criteria for tourism tax

What, then, are the most essential criteria to consider when creating a tourism tax model for your destination?

1. Earmark and ring-fence: Whether for general tourism  promotion or for regenerative purposes, there is a consensus among leading associations, intergovernmental organisations and amongst local stakeholders that tourism tax is a specialised tax and its revenues should be allocated and invested as such.

2. Local governance adds collaborative capability : Local governance and representation is often key to balancing stakeholder interests and to earn political support for the tax regime and support of the local DMO. Local and democratic governance and distribution of funds adds to the legitimacy of the tax and collaborative capability of the destination.

3. High visibility and transparency works with consumers : Case studies prove that tourism taxes are often well received with consumers if communicated as a modest contribution to be used for purposeful, regenerative projects and activities.

4. Public engagement and consultation are key : Governments or destinations looking to introduce or change tourism  taxation policies need to engage in open and public conversation.

5. Specify how to comply : In their comprehensive 2017 study, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) highlights the importance of ensuring compliance with the tax regime. This can be done by offering advice and extensive instructions to less resourceful SMEs and by committing industry associations and platforms. In some member states, tax authorities have committed the large shared platform providers (such as Airbnb and HomeAway) to facilitate the automated collection of occupancy taxes.

6.  Monitor and evaluate impact : There is a lack of good data as well as monitoring, evaluation, and analysis of the impact of tourism-related taxes and incentives to ensure they are meeting their stated objectives without adversely affecting tourism competitiveness.

7. Consider both benefits and burdens : For many good reasons, much literature, research, and political advocacy have long focused on the economic and social benefits of tourism in a global world. However, it is vital to also understand and address the “invisible burdens” of the visitor economy to the destination that present themselves in many forms.

Both the research and case studies prove that well-designed tourism taxes can be both practical and meaningful tools in the sustainable management of the destination’s resources. Ultimately, regenerative tax can offer a vital lifeline to recovery.

The research was developed by Group NAO and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement   and has been launched in partnership with European Tourism Association (ETOA)  with support from nine urban tourism destinations.  Read the full white paper here: TOURISM TAXES BY DESIGN  

Group  NAO  works with transformative  agendas, ideas and strategies in travel, tourism, culture, and urban  development. We are strategic creatives, change communicators and imaginative  analysts.

The  GDS-Movement ’s mission  is to enable destination management professionals to catalyse and co-create  sustainable and circular strategies, that will enable destinations of the  future to thrive, and society and nature to regenerate.

Watch the webinar launch  HERE .

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Krýsuvík Geothermal Area

The wooden walkway, which is the only safe approach to the bubbling and hissing geothermal area, is being replaced, so the area will be closed entirely during construction. The steaming volcanic vents and boiling hot springs alone call for hiking trails to be constantly repaired as there is a lot of wear and tear. During construction, a gravel top dressing will be added to pathways as conditions allow. The project is being carried out with a grant from the Tourist Site Protection Fund for the continued development of the area, which is considered urgent due to safety and nature conservation considerations. All visitors are thanked for their patience during the construction and are referred to numerous other interesting places in Hafnarfjörður at www.visithafnarfjordur.is or destinations in Reykjanes at www.visitreykjanes.is .

Not too far from the centre of Hafnarfjörður rest the remarkable solfatara fields of Krýsuvík, where you’ll discover an expanse of steaming volcanic vents and boiling hot springs, framed dramatically by a range of multi-coloured hills.   

A well-maintained boardwalk winds through the bubbling and hissing Seltún geothermal area, with informative signage explaining all the important geological facts. The massive solfatara steaming away on the hilltop is a tempting attraction, even for those with tired legs, and the spectacular view of the surrounding area is well worth the extra legwork. As a short side-trip, you can also explore the coastline, where you’ll discover the stunning cliffs of Krýsuvíkurbjarg—an area renowned for its rich birdlife.

You'll find wildly colourful crater lakes beside the mud pools and sulphur deposits. The Grænavatn, Gestsstaðavatn, and Augun lakes are old explosion craters formed by volcanic eruptions. Grænavatn Lake, 46 meters (150 feet) at its deepest, glows with a deep green hue and is coloured so because of the presence of thermal algae and crystals that absorb the sun's rays. Gestsstaðavatn Lake draws its name from Gestsstaðir, a nearby farm, abandoned during the Middle Ages. On either side of the main road are two small adjacent lakes, called Augun (the eyes).

Just a few minutes' drive from the surreal landscape of the geothermal area sits the stunning Krýsuvíkurberg Cliffs. Here, thousands of seabirds nest in the rugged hillside beside the crashing surf of the Atlantic Ocean. For a peaceful outing, hike along the trail to the edge of the cliffs where it's possible to spot kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, and other birds as they dive into the sea to feed or frolic with their flock.

Contact the  Hafnarfjörður Tourist Information Centre  for a detailed map of the Krýsuvík area, including hiking and walking routes and information on local history, geology, folklore and attractions.

Hafnarfjörður has located about 18 km from the city centre of Reykjavík.

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Overtourism is harming the climate. What can be done about it?

New initiatives aim to draw people out of the world’s most popular destinations to lessen tourists’ impact on the Earth.

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Venice has many nicknames: the ‘Queen of the Adriatic’, the ‘Floating City’ and ‘La Serenissima’ – the most serene. But as anyone who has been to Venice knows, on a typical day it can feel anything but serene. The city is notoriously mobbed with tourists. Up to 120,000 people visit Venice each day in peak season, but it has only 55,000 permanent residents. It is a phenomenon known as “overtourism”, where too many people visit the same place at the same time.

Overtourism is a big problem, with 80% of the world’s tourists only going to 10% of the world’s destinations, according to the start-up consultancy Murmuration. Venice is probably the most notorious example, but other European cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dubrovnik and Prague are also badly affected. The problem does not just make life unpleasant for residents and visits less enjoyable for tourists, it also puts significant strain on the environment and is hurting the climate. So many people flying into the same place degrades local ecosystems and natural defences against the effects of climate change. This in turn is causing worries that these oversaturated cities are going to be particularly vulnerable to climate change.

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The UN’s World Tourism Organization and the International Transport Forum concluded in 2019 that 5% of global emissions – and 22% of global transport emissions – are from transport-related international and domestic tourism. Overtourism’s worst offender is cruise ship tourism, which in 2016 emitted 24–30 million tonnes (t) of CO₂, with per passenger emissions ranging from 1.2–9t of CO₂ per trip. By comparison, a transatlantic flight emits a bit less than one tonne of CO2 per passenger, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation. That means taking a cruise emits up to nine times more carbon than flying across the Atlantic.

Luring with the lagoon

In Venice, overtourism is affecting the lagoon in which it sits in the form of pollution, resource depletion, stressed waste management systems, strained water supply and improper drainage. As sea levels rise and the city experiences more intense flooding, overtourism leaves Venice more vulnerable. The city has made some efforts to change the tide, banning cruise ships of more than 55,000t from docking in the city centre since 2021. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has also been pushing for more drastic solutions such as turnstiles that would separate residents from tourists and an entry fee for the city, but so far those have been resisted.

Yet the lagoon, the very thing being harmed by overtourism, could also provide a solution. Some tour operators are starting to think about other ways people can visit. “I was born here, so it breaks my heart to say it, but Venice is too overcrowded and it is full of tourists every day,” laments Gianluca Maggiori, a cycling travel tour operator in the Veneto region that surrounds Venice. “If you want to get a very real experience of the Veneto region, you must go outside and explore the countryside,” he said during a trip through the lagoon.

The Covid-19 pandemic , which saw tourism to Venice suddenly stop completely, gave tourism operators a chance to pause and think. While the city stood eerily deserted, and businesses had to worry about how they would make ends meet, some also started to think – what if we didn’t go back to overtourism after this? Maggiori and a group of other tourism operators in the Veneto region decided to launch the 'Slow Flow' concept, organised visits around the rivers that feed the Venetian lagoon, by bike and boat. This can draw tourists out of Venice. It can also make for a more authentic experience.

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Coaxing with Catalonia

Barcelona has also been trying to entice tourists out of the city centre. Even before the pandemic, Mayor Ada Colau vowed to tackle overtourism in 2019 by cutting cruise ships and limiting the expansion of its airport. The Catalan Government is trying to lure tourists to other destinations in Catalonia such as Girona, an ancient city with beautiful surviving city walls which, though just 87km from Barcelona, is rarely visited.

Barcelona’s problems could be considered even more alarming than Venice’s because the surge in tourism has been so sudden, whereas Venice has been a tourist destination for centuries. Barcelona had 1.7 million overnight visitors in 1990, a figure which had risen to eight million by 2016 thanks to the city's revamp prompted by hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics. The city’s population is 1.6 million.

That surge has resulted in a pollution tragedy. Barcelona now has the second-highest rate of plastic waste ending up in the sea in the entire Mediterranean, according to a 2019 WWF report . Trash now accounts for 38% of fishing boats’ catch in the seas between Barcelona and the nearby coastal city of Vilanova i la Geltrú. High levels of noise and air pollution are also caused by the planes and cruise ships dumping tourists into the town. Of the tourists arriving in Barcelona, 82% do so via aircraft, with hardly any arriving by train despite Spain’s excellent high-speed rail network, thanks to France’s failure to complete its portion of a high-speed rail connection across the Pyrenees.

Cruise ships have an even more damaging effect, with seven ships carrying a total of 18,000 passengers and 6,000 crew docking at Barcelona’s port each day. According to a 2016 University of Barcelona AQR-Lab study, most passengers visit the city for around five hours, spend an average of €57 each and return to their ships at night. This means their environmental impact on the city is greater than their economic contribution to it. Cruises accounted for 28.5%  of Barcelona’s carcinogenic nitrogen oxide and 3.5% of the city’s particle pollution. The fuel oil used by cruise ships contains 2,000-times more sulphur oxide than ordinary diesel. Barcelona was named the worst port in Europe for cruise ship air pollution in a 2019 report by the NGO Transport & Environment.

The Netherlands has also been trying to spread out its tourists, and its tourism board is no longer promoting Amsterdam. Instead, it is promoting other Dutch cities like Utrecht and Rotterdam, easily accessible from the capital. Iceland, which each year receives two million visitors, compared with its population of 350,000, has launched a Tourist Site Protection Fund, and the capital of Reykjavik has stopped issuing construction permits for new hotels.

Other actions have been more drastic. Thailand closed an entire destination, Maya Bay, in 2018 to allow nature to regenerate after the site became overwhelmed by tourists and boats after being featured in the 2000 movie The Beach . The tiny beach received 2.5 million visitors the year before it closed – more than 6,800 per day. All the boats and people destroyed large parts of the coral reefs, which had a devastating impact on the ecosystem and local rare sea life. The government reopened the bay last year, but with new efforts to spread tourists around to other locations in the area and limit the number of visitors. In particular, the government is trying to get tourists away from the city of Phuket to less well-known secondary destinations nearby. Costa Rica has also had some success in diverting tourists, receiving the 2019 Champions of the Earth award from the UN for, among other things, its efforts to limit tourism’s impact on nature and climate by marketing off-season travel and spreading tourists around.

Measuring overtourism’s climate impact

In France, the EU-funded initiative Climate-KIC has launched Murmuration , a start-up that combines environmental studies and a web platform, Flockeo, to provide reliable indicators of a tourist destination’s impact on the environment and climate. This can be useful for the tourism industry, municipal authorities and tourists themselves, who are increasingly aware of the damaging environmental impact of their trips.

A 2019 survey by MMGY Travel Intelligence found that 60% of US travellers believe tourism overcrowding will have a significant impact on destinations they choose to visit within the next five to ten years, and 48% of travellers believe that climate change will have a significant influence on what destinations they want to visit. A survey by Booking .com in April of last year found that 71% of global travellers intend to travel more sustainably in the future.

The travel and tourism industry has taken notice. “In November 2021, we released our Travel Sustainable programme,” said Danielle D’Silva, head of sustainability at Booking.com, at a recent event in Brussels. “What we see is that sustainability is currently a niche part of the market. Less than 1% of accommodations currently have a third-party sustainability certification – only about 6,000 of the millions of hotels on our platform. So, we realise to make it easier for travellers to make those decisions they want to, we have to make it easier for our [hotel] partners to become more sustainable.”

The big question, however is whether travellers are willing to make sacrifices and think in new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their travel. The Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands recently launched a project exploring what kind of tourism we will need to reach the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The results found that tourism patterns would only have to be adjusted a bit to be in line with net-zero goals, simply by adjusting the way we travel rather than the number of trips.

“The outcome of this study was that the number of trips, nights and revenues can potentially simply grow like in business as usual, up to 2050 and even after,” explained Paul Peeters, professor of sustainable transport and tourism at Breda University of Applied Sciences, at the Brussels event. “Something between 85–90% of all trips in 2050 would in the zero-emissions scenario still be the same as in the business as usual. So, you would have to change 10–15% of tourism along the way in 30 years’ time.”

Spreading tourists out to destinations like the rivers around the Venice Lagoon could be part of the answer for delivering that 10–15%. Maggiori says tour operators in the Slow Flow project want to be part of the solution, and more customers are open to new destinations. “In these last two years after the pandemic, many Italians started to discover the countryside,” he noted, saying he sees an increasing interest in not just going to the same tourist hotspots as before. “Our business is growing very fast and we are happy about that.”

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Icelandic Tourist Board

The Icelandic Tourist Board is an independent authority under the Ministry of Culture and Business Affairs . Its activities are regulated through the Act on the Icelandic Tourist Board and the Act on Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements .

The Icelandic Tourist Board shall monitor and promote the development of tourism as an important and sustainable pillar of the Icelandic economy, having regard to the carrying capacity of Icelandic nature and society, as well as facilitate coordination, analyses and research in the tourism sector in accordance with government policy.

Granting licenses and legislation

A license must be applied for in order to operate a travel agency or day tour provider . A registration certificate is required for the running of information centres. All those who obtain licenses from the Icelandic Tourist Board are required to display the graphical logo from the Icelandic Tourist Board on their websites and in any advertising.

The Icelandic Tourist board plays an active role in developing the regulatory framework for tourism in Iceland through participation in legislation and various interactions with legislators and other governmental agencies.

Quality issues - VAKINN

Vakinn, the quality and environmental certification for Icelandic tourism is based on Qualmark - New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality. Much work has been put into adapting the system to Icelandic conditions involving various stakeholders in tourism as well as specialists from diverse fields of expertise.

The Vakinn star rating criteria for hotels is, however, composed according to the European Hotelstars system, led by the Hotrec Association. Star rating criteria for other categories of accommodation are based on the Qualmark system.

The aim of Vakinn is to strengthen quality, safety and environmental awareness within Icelandic tourism by means of guidance and support and promote social responsibility of tourist service providers in the process. For its members, Vakinn is an effective tool to increase quality and safety, providing diverse supplementary materials, guidelines, data and check-lists that are useful in improving operating procedures.

www.vakinn.is

Research and statistics

Tourism research and data gathering are vital for its development, and the Icelandic Tourist Board is involved in a variety of ways, for example by conducting surveys among domestic and foreign tourists, disseminating reports on business and industry issues and participating in research projects within the various fields of tourism.

The Icelandic Tourist Board is responsible for the tallying of tourists who pass through the airport terminal at Keflavík International airport and registering their nationalities. Results are an important tool for marketing, evaluation of success and the shaping of public policy for industry.

Regional development

This aspect is gaining more importance at the Icelandic Tourist Board. In 2015 the Icelandic Tourist Board, along with the Tourism Task Force, launched the development of Destination Management Plans (DMPs). This holistic approach takes into account the planning and coordination of development and management of tourist flows in each region and strengthens the local tourism support frameworks.

Environmental issues

The Icelandic Tourist Board works in close co-operation with municipalities, government agencies, individuals, organisations and companies. However, all projects have the goal of improving access around the country and increasing the tolerance limits of tourism areas.

Distribution of information

The organisation maintains and regularly publishes diverse information on the development of the industry and operates the largest database concerning tourism in Iceland. The Icelandic Tourist Board's website, ferdamalastofa.is, contains a wealth of information regarding the organisation and is, at the same time, an information provider on tourism in Iceland, its scope and development.

Co-operation

Co-operation with others is an integral part of the Tourist Boards activities. Among those in close cooperation are e.g.:

• Innovation Centre Iceland
• Promote Iceland
• The Icelandic Travel Industry Association
• The Icelandic Tourism Research Centre
• The Environment Agency of Iceland
• Marketing Agencies around the country
• Regional developmental agencies

The Icelandic Tourist Board participates in international co-operation, e.g. within the  European Travel Commission  and the  North Atlantic Tourist Association .

Planning to visit Iceland? 

Visit Iceland is the official destination marketing office for Iceland and aims to attract travelers to Iceland. The Visit Iceland team works effectively on promoting and marketing to consumers in cooperation with the tourism industry under the umbrella brand of Inspired by Iceland .

The Ísland.is App

Digital Iceland

The tourist site protection fund.

24th August 2022

The Icelandic Tourist Board has opened a new online application on Iceland.is. Now tourist destinations and tourist routes owned and managed by municipalities and private entities can apply for Iceland.is electronically. Applications are open until 13.00 on 26 October 2022.

The Icelandic Tourist Board has called for applications for grants for 2022. The application deadline is from August 24th 2022 until13:00 on Wednesday October 5th 2022.

The Executive Fund shall finance developments in tourist destinations and tourist routes owned or managed by municipalities and private entities.

The Fund may finance projects relating to:

Tourist safety.

Nature conservation and development.

The maintenance and protection of structures and nature.

The financing of the preparatory work and design work necessary for the projects mentioned above.

The Fund may not:

To bear the operating costs of construction projects and for nature reserves or other tourist attractions.

To fund projects included in the National Plan for the Development of Infrastructure for the Protection of Nature and Cultural Historical Objects.

Quality of applications

Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the laws and regulations that apply to the fund and to scrutinise their applications in all respects. Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the quality criteria of the fund, as well as further information on the conditions for lending and the application process that can be found at

Applications are submitted electronically at Ísland.is.

The application deadline is from 24 August 2022 to 13:00 on Wednesday 5 October 2022. Applications received after that date shall not be considered.

A photo from Promote Iceland.

Canada Jetlines grounds all flights, plans to file for creditor protection

Airline says it could not raise the financing needed to keep flying.

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Canada Jetlines is grounding all flights and says it is temporarily ceasing airline operations effective immediately, making it the latest carrier to signal distress within Canada's troubled commercial airline industry. 

The airline, which flew mainly to sun destinations out of Toronto, said Thursday it has been unable to find the capital needed to stay afloat and plans to file for creditor protection.

"The company ... pursued all available financing alternatives including strategic transactions and equity and debt financings," said spokeswoman Erica Dymond in a release.

"Unfortunately despite these efforts, the company has been unable to obtain the financing required to continue operations at this time."

Passengers with existing bookings should contact their credit card company to secure refunds, the company said. "Every effort is being made to assist passengers at this time."

The shutdown follows the resignation of four executives on Monday, including CEO Brigitte Goersch.

It marks yet another airline departure from Canadian skies after the closure of Lynx Air and budget carrier Swoop within the past year.

Canada Jetlines, which is headquartered in Mississauga, Ont., serves Canadians flying within the country or to destinations in the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico. It launched its first flight in September 2022.

The carrier provides charter flights to sports teams and companies and leases its fleet to other carriers in the summertime. Its former CEO Eddy Doyle characterized it as leisure airline, though it was originally conceived as an ultra low-cost carrier.

That business model was ultimately shelved, partly because the starting price for discount carriers in Canada "is composed of a lot of taxes," and partly due to the challenges of competing with Air Canada and WestJet, Doyle told CBC News in February.

Why is it so much more expensive to travel by air in Canada?

At the time, Doyle said he thought there was "enough supply there to meet demand for the Canadian travelling public," with Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat back at full-strength following the disruptions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But he added that any new entrants would be fighting for the same portion of the market.

Canada Jetlines, which has struggled to get more than a handful of planes off the ground since its inaugural flight in September 2022, faced a series of hiccups even before this week's turbulence.

Even its initial launch, announced for December 2019, was postponed when company announced that fall it was laying off most employees after failing to secure the required financing and losing investment partners.

In January 2023, Canada Jetlines pressed pause on domestic routes as the carrier refocused on sun destinations and leasing its planes, but said at the time it aimed to resume in-country flights that fall.

That setback came after seven years of fundraising and despite Ottawa lifting the foreign ownership ceiling on Canadian airlines to 49 per cent from 25 per cent in 2018, allowing for a wider pool of investors.

Canada Jetlines lost $14.2 million over the 12 months between March 2023 and last March, despite eking out a profit in one of the quarters, according to financial filings. Quarterly revenues ranged between $8 million and $12 million.

In May, the company secured a $2-million loan from Square Financial Investment Corp., a Mississauga-based holding company owned by board member Reg Christian, who was named executive vice-president as a result. The loan is one of several taken out by Canada Jetlines over the past two years.

As recently as May 10, the company said in financial statements it planned to grow to seven planes by year's end and 15 aircraft by 2026.

And in June, Doyle announced his retirement three-and-a-half years after joining the company. Goersch then took over as chief executive.

'It's a sign of the times'

Aviation expert John Gradek told CBC News that the airline had "been on the edge for months."

"When you look at their pattern of operations and their pattern of funding ... to me it was a surprise that they didn't get their licence pulled by Transport Canada earlier," said Gradek.

"These guys had six airplanes and a couple hundred people, and they were just going month-to-month, trying to scramble and get as much cash as they possibly could to meet the payroll and the lease cost on the airplane[s]," Gradek said.

• As Lynx heads to the discount airline graveyard, what options do travellers have?

He said it was only a matter of hours after the executive exodus on Monday that the airline would collapse.

"It's a sign of the times. We have a problem in terms of commercial aviation in Canada," Gradek added.

"People were spending five, six, $700 to buy a ticket on an airline that, in my opinion, was on pretty shaky ground. That, to me, is a failing of our transportation policy [and] practices." 

Trading of company shares on the NEO Exchange was halted late yesterday afternoon.

With files from CBC's Jenna Benchetrit, Reid Southwick and Nisha Patel

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Ukraine launches 'one of largest ever' drone attacks on Moscow, mayor says

Ukraine launched one of the largest ever drone attacks on Moscow on Wednesday, the city's mayor said, with Russian air defence units destroying at least 10 drones flying towards the capital.

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Late-Summer Travel Plans? You Might Want to Put On a Mask.

With U.S. Covid-19 cases at very high levels and new vaccines still several weeks away, we asked experts for their advice on when and where to wear a mask.

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By Ceylan Yeğinsu and Dani Blum

It is the height of the summer travel season: Airplanes and cruises are packed, hotels are booked, and travelers are crowding theme parks and attractions. Yet throughout the United States, Covid-19 is currently circulating at very high levels.

During the peak of the pandemic, masks were ubiquitous in hotels, airports and other public places. They were required to fly , and many travelers donned them elsewhere to help reduce the transmission of the deadly coronavirus. Since the end of the mandate, and as travel has returned to or surpassed prepandemic levels , most travelers have abandoned preventive measures, particularly masks.

With updated vaccines not available until the fall , experts are reminding travelers about the benefits of masking, particularly in airports and poorly ventilated indoor environments.

Here’s what you need to know about masks and your travel plans.

What’s going on with Covid right now?

The number of reported cases appears to be climbing both in the United States and abroad. In the United States, there are “very high” levels of the virus in wastewater samples nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization reported that cases around the globe rose by 30 percent from June 24 to July 21, compared with the previous 28 days. Put simply: There’s a lot of Covid out there.

How effective are masks? What is the best mask to use?

People who want to minimize their risk of respiratory illnesses like Covid (along with colds and the flu) should wear a mask while traveling, experts say. Even if you’re the only person wearing one on a train or at an airport, a mask continues to offer protection — provided you wear it properly, which means covering both your nose and your mouth.

“It does not eliminate the risk, but it substantially reduces the risk of exposure,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, the chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System, in Missouri. Aim for a high-quality mask, like an N95, a KN95 or a KF94 , all of which filter out the overwhelming majority of virus particles and are far more effective at reducing the chance of a Covid infection than cloth or surgical versions. Masks should fit snugly on your face.

“If you have symptoms and you have any question about it, I would wear a mask, just to protect other people,” said Dr. Marc Sala, a co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Covid-19 Center in Chicago. Common symptoms of Covid include coughing, fever, sneezing, congestion, headaches, sore muscles, fatigue and gastrointestinal issues . Those who are asymptomatic but have been exposed to Covid may also consider masking.

If you have tested positive during a trip but cannot delay traveling, you should wear a mask whenever you are around other people, Dr. Sala said.

Where should travelers wear a mask?

The C.D.C. urges travelers to “consider wearing masks in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs.”

Dr. Al-Aly recommended carrying around a few masks in your bag or pockets, so that you have them on hand when you enter a crowded indoor space. “Maintain situational awareness,” he said. If you’re in a crowded indoor space, like a train station or busy museum, you may want to put on a mask. Although airplanes filter and circulate air , there is still a risk that comes with being in close quarters with large groups of people, Dr. Al-Aly said.

What is the travel industry’s stance on masking?

The mask mandate on airplanes became a heated issue at the height of the pandemic, with travel representatives arguing that it was harming the recovery of a hard-hit industry.

The U.S. Travel Association , a trade group that promotes travel to and within the country, believes mask wearing should be up to individual travelers. It welcomed the lifting of the mask mandate on U.S. transportation in 2022, calling it “a step further toward the endemic management of Covid.” That stance has not changed.

The International Air Transportation Association , another industry group, argues that aircraft are designed to reduce the transmission of viruses on board. “Cabin air is refreshed every two to three minutes — much more frequently than most other indoor environments,” the agency said in a statement. “It is also filtered and flows from ceiling to floor, all of which helps to maintain a healthy onboard environment.”

Passengers always have a choice to wear masks, the statement continued, and many airlines provide them upon request.

Major cruise lines do not require guests to wear masks, but passengers are required to undergo a health screening before boarding a ship, and some companies, including Carnival Cruise Line, encourage passengers to be up-to-date with Covid vaccines.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ceylan Yeğinsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

Dani Blum is a health reporter for The Times. More about Dani Blum