If Greenland has been within the highlight for a 12 months now because of the repeated statements of Donald Trump, who claims that he needs to annex it to the US, the territory has different problems to regulate, beginning with the control of tourism. With its impressive landscapes and the enchantment of the Inuit tradition, Greenland seeks to reconcile higher tourism income with the safety of its herbal and cultural belongings within the face of the hazards of overtourism.
On the subject of tourism, Greenlanders face a large catch 22 situation within the coming years: to resolutely expand this sector… or no longer to take action, with the intention to keep away from what some describe as “excessive tourism”. The a long way north is standard and construction airports that may accommodate long-haul flights highlights the dangers. In 2023, geographer Remy Knafu rightly reminded that “the only truly operational way to control the impact of tourism in places with little or no population is to not start it.”
Till just lately, because of the northern local weather and the polar night time, tourism was once concentrated in a brief length of the 12 months, from June to the tip of August, and anxious only some emblematic localities: principally Ilulissat and its ice fjord, which is assessed as a UNESCO heritage, and Disko Bay. Since then, the selection of international guests has been slightly restricted: in 2023, it higher to 130,000 folks.
Critics of tourism concern that by way of expanding direct flights (particularly between Nuuk and New York), over the top tourism construction will weaken the herbal atmosphere and native high quality of lifestyles and result in the folklorization of Inuit tradition. The global group of social tourism warns of the danger, thru tourism locally, of freezing native identities in a synthetic staging, a picturesque symbol this is principally promoted by way of international tourism operators.
International warming is already disrupting the way of living of communities, and conflicts of use would possibly get up over tourism initiatives which might be too formidable, poorly designed, that don’t admire customs or puts.
Excerpt from the Greenlandic tutorial case KALAALLIT NUNAAT. Click on to zoom. KALAALLIT NUNAAT How to succeed in a harmonious tourism transition?
Excluding the plan, it kind of feels related to inspire the Greenlandic government to proceed their pondering by way of figuring out herbal heritage assets. Along with the long-lasting puts discussed above, it might be the Kujataa area (labeled as a UNESCO Global Heritage Web page), the Northeast Nationwide Park (a biosphere reserve), flora and fauna and arctic landscapes: the ice sheet. This mapping of assets will make it imaginable to spot probably the most sexy, however above all of the maximum threatened, as a result of they’re uncommon and fragile.
Talk over with Greenland, a tourism promotion website online owned by way of the federal government of Greenland, got here up with the concept that, The Arctic Large 5: Sledding, Northern Lighting, Ice and Snow, Whales, Communities. Watch out, alternatively, to not fall into the magical charisma and fable of the noble savage. With excellent explanation why, a number of authors emphasize the particular enchantment of the polar areas: the Nordic creativeness. Thus, in 2009, Alain Grenier underlined that “the imagination of the North represents the primary attraction of the Nordic regions and, to a greater extent, the polar regions.” In 2020, Nicholas Escach famous that “in a saturated world, the Arctic is also associated with the promise of a reserve of untouched space, a kind of ontological return to the origin.” The query of the picture given to the territory and the way in which of verbal exchange will due to this fact be of crucial significance.
Greenlandic operator boat providing day cruises between Ilulissat and Okaatsut. It is a small unit tailored to admire the visits to the communities and the place all source of revenue remains within the nation. M.-N. Rimaud, supplied by way of the writer
2d, decision-makers in Greenland can have an hobby in accomplishing a list of stakeholders within the tourism sector, in order that when the time comes to tell them, elevate their consciousness, possibly inspire them to modify their perspectives, and in the end reinforce them. The orientation of a part of the reinforce gadget in want of the actors concerned within the transition has proven its effectiveness in different places as neatly.
After all, it might be fascinating to hold out some roughly self-diagnosis of threats associated with international warming and exaggerated vacationer capability, for instance the usage of a criticality matrix (which might permit to determine some roughly classification associated with the exploitation of various websites, which might be from top or important possibility to confirmed possibility absent).
A documentary on Arte remembers the rustic’s dependence on fishing (4,000 folks, or 10% of the inhabitants, paintings on this sector), which forces it to hunt diversification. Naaja H. Nathanielsen, Minister of Herbal Assets, confirms within the documentary the a very powerful wish to in finding further assets:
“(Almost) 54% of the state budget comes from outside: this is the subsidy given by Denmark, as well as the funds that come from the EU. So we have a very difficult task to perform. We have to earn more money ourselves to be self-sufficient.”
To reach this, important investments should be made, as the rustic lacks infrastructure, and the local weather and get right of entry to stipulations are a lot more tough there than in different places.
Legislation from November 2024
As I specified within the Polar Magazine article, the tourism construction legislation got here into power in November 2024. He confirms that the territory needs to make tourism an engine of expansion and be offering alternatives to Greenlandic marketers. The query that continues to be unanswered is the stability between native operators and outdoor traders, who’re regarded as ubiquitous. Already in 2012, Od Kreki regretted that cash for cruises or journey tourism circulates extra from Western palms to Western palms.
The brand new textual content introduces a extra restrictive funding and belongings coverage. The legislation now calls for a license to hold out tourism actions and calls for license holders to be resident and taxed in Greenland. Some actions, corresponding to cruises, are restricted to positive spaces and instances; however the legislation is scheduled to take impact on January 1, 2027, giving operators time to evolve.
In an research from April 2025, the Danish Nationwide Financial institution warned of a pattern in opposition to over the top restrictions at the participation of international traders:
“Foreign investment generally brings know-how and venture capital that promotes business development and company revenue. The broader business structure requires significant investment, and the basis for this investment cannot be created on Greenlandic savings and capital alone.”
Any other casual caution: the instance of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. Its capital, Longyearbyen, is “attacked” by way of guests for approximately ten days throughout the summer time, forcing the federal government to take restrictive measures. A seek advice from to Svalbard invitations us to take into accounts the easiest way to arrange the field: “Svalbard must achieve an optimal balance as a destination by guaranteeing “the suitable selection of guests in the suitable position on the proper time” – “The proper selection of the suitable visitors in the suitable position on the proper time” (4R). The vacation spot will prioritize markets and segments that persistently give a contribution to making the bottom native footprint (greatest native footprint).
On the subject of agile group, piloting a whale staring at cruise within the St. Lawrence in Canada too can function a type.
Strategic selections to be made
Ultimate selections might be vital: what is going to be the quantity of holiday makers and if it is an try to draw mass or luxurious tourism; Is seasonal adjustment required and if that is so, how can it’s accomplished? What is going to be the vacationer hotspots (this is, the ones the place Greenlandic verbal exchange might be maximum emphasised) and the way to give protection to them? Which monetary companions for native venture leaders and the way to verify enough go back on funding for communities?
Greenland belongs to Greenlanders! However its long run may also rely at the talent of alternative international locations to acknowledge this nation and admire it. Commentary by way of Naaja H. Nathanielsen on LinkedIn in mid-January 2026 – “I will call on like-minded countries to make our region safe in respectful cooperation: invest, engage and be allies” – would possibly look like a fascinating schedule.
