The beautiful country so desperate for more tourists it's launched a £618m revamp
The Danish territory of Greenland has committed to a major infrastructure project that could transform the islands tourism industry.
As cities all over Europe protest against the impact of overtourism, you could be forgiven for wondering which destinations actually welcome visitors.
From tourist deterring taxes in Venice to water gun wielding demonstrators in Barcelona, 2024 has seen dozens of anti-tourism protests across the continent, but that is not the consensus in every country.
Greenland is one such place who is rolling out the red carpet for visitors looking to explore its stunning scenery.
With a new international airport opening later this year, Greenland is investing in the ability to welcome more visitors in the coming years.
Until now, its runways have not been long enough to accommodate large flights, with travellers having to fly into Kangerlussuaq, a former US military base, before catching internal flights to their onward destination.
Greenland, an autonomous territory in Denmark, is set to spend a staggering £618 million to improve its airport infrastructure, with a second international airport due to open in the popular tourist destination of Ilulissat, 563 kilometres north of Nuuk by 2026, followed by new regional airport in Qaqartoq shortly after.
Traditionally, the nation’s economy has relied heavily on fishing, with tourism equating to around 10% of its GDP, but it is hoped that the investment will contribute significantly more in the future.
Speaking to the BBC earlier this year, Jens Lauridsen, chief executive at Greenland Airports, pointed out that flights from most European airports take a little over four hours.
He said: “From the US, the East Coast is also four hours, so we’re placed right in the middle and there is very, very big interest from all major carriers in Europe.”
It is hoped that the increased revenue from tourism will benefit the vast majority of the population.
Don't miss: 'I visited China's £500m fake British town – it was missing one important thing'
Don't miss: Another city in Italy says 'too many tourists' as protests erupt
Don't miss: Spanish holiday resort loved by millions of British tourists becomes 'narco h...
Tanny Por, head of international relations at Visit Greenland, says that the hope is for 80% of the population to believe that tourism offers a positive contribution to society.
She said: “Airports cost a lot, so we do have to encourage a lot of tourists to come, but we will be doing this in a balanced way, so as not to overrun local people.
Greenland is focussed on two main forms of tourism. The first is adventure tourism, which will focus on things such as whale watching and exploring the island’s ice sheets.
The second, is known as “dark sky tourism” allowing the Danish territory to take advantage of the sensational star-gazing opportunities such as the northern lights.
A secondary benefit to larger aircrafts being able to land on the island comes from an increased ability to export more of the vast quantities of seafood the nation is able to produce.
Is there a destination that we should be covering? If so, please email conor.wilson@reachplc.com
