Icelandic tourism: Past directions - future challenges

Gunnar Thór Jóhannesson; Edward Hákon Huijbens; Richard Sharpley

doi:10.1080/14616680903493670

Icelandic tourism: Past directions - future challenges

Gunnar Thór Jóhannesson, Edward Hákon Huijbens, Richard Sharpley

Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences

University of Iceland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Although island tourism in general has long been considered within the tourism literature, attention has been focused primarily on warm-water islands; conversely, limited attention has been paid to cold-water islands as destinations for tourists. This paper assesses the development of tourism in one such destination, Iceland, and discusses its history and the challenges confronting it. Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Icelandic economy. Tourism arrivals have multiplied in recent years, doubling, for instance, in the ten-year c has prompted rapid expansion in the tourism sector, invoking questions with regards to both the opportunities tourism presents and the challenges that will need to be addressed in the near future. In order to underpin a critical appraisal of future challenges, this paper reviews the history of modern tourism in Iceland with a focus on policy and entrepreneurship in tourism. It describes the characteristics of tourism in Iceland and its development, and critically illustrates some of the main challenges the tourism industry in Iceland is facing. In so doing, the paper seeks to add to the understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing cold-water island destinations that are experiencing significant growth in tourism.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	278-301
Number of pages	24
Journal	Tourism Geographies
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14616680903493670
Publication status	Published - May 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: Tourism research in Iceland is only in its infancy, at least compared to research in the other two main contributors to the economy. The Marine Research Institute enjoys by far the greatest standing, reflected in contributions from the national budget (1,432 million ISK) (Fjárlög fyrir árið 2008 2007). Energy research in Iceland, mostly for the development of energy resources for heavy industry, also receives considerable funding (580 million ISK). The only official tourism research institute, the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, jointly operated by the three universities offering tourism studies, does not get any direct financial support from the state (Fjárlög fyrir árið 2008 2007).

Other keywords

Cold-water island tourism
Iceland
Sociosustainability
Tourism development
Tourism policy

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10.1080/14616680903493670

Cite this

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title = "Icelandic tourism: Past directions - future challenges",

abstract = "Although island tourism in general has long been considered within the tourism literature, attention has been focused primarily on warm-water islands; conversely, limited attention has been paid to cold-water islands as destinations for tourists. This paper assesses the development of tourism in one such destination, Iceland, and discusses its history and the challenges confronting it. Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Icelandic economy. Tourism arrivals have multiplied in recent years, doubling, for instance, in the ten-year c has prompted rapid expansion in the tourism sector, invoking questions with regards to both the opportunities tourism presents and the challenges that will need to be addressed in the near future. In order to underpin a critical appraisal of future challenges, this paper reviews the history of modern tourism in Iceland with a focus on policy and entrepreneurship in tourism. It describes the characteristics of tourism in Iceland and its development, and critically illustrates some of the main challenges the tourism industry in Iceland is facing. In so doing, the paper seeks to add to the understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing cold-water island destinations that are experiencing significant growth in tourism.",

keywords = "Cold-water island tourism, Iceland, Sociosustainability, Tourism development, Tourism policy",

author = "J{\'o}hannesson, \{Gunnar Th{\'o}r\} and Huijbens, \{Edward H{\'a}kon\} and Richard Sharpley",

note = "Funding Information: Tourism research in Iceland is only in its infancy, at least compared to research in the other two main contributors to the economy. The Marine Research Institute enjoys by far the greatest standing, reflected in contributions from the national budget (1,432 million ISK) (Fj{\'a}rl{\"o}g fyrir {\'a}ri{\dh} 2008 2007). Energy research in Iceland, mostly for the development of energy resources for heavy industry, also receives considerable funding (580 million ISK). The only official tourism research institute, the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, jointly operated by the three universities offering tourism studies, does not get any direct financial support from the state (Fj{\'a}rl{\"o}g fyrir {\'a}ri{\dh} 2008 2007).",

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AU - Jóhannesson, Gunnar Thór

AU - Huijbens, Edward Hákon

AU - Sharpley, Richard

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N2 - Although island tourism in general has long been considered within the tourism literature, attention has been focused primarily on warm-water islands; conversely, limited attention has been paid to cold-water islands as destinations for tourists. This paper assesses the development of tourism in one such destination, Iceland, and discusses its history and the challenges confronting it. Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Icelandic economy. Tourism arrivals have multiplied in recent years, doubling, for instance, in the ten-year c has prompted rapid expansion in the tourism sector, invoking questions with regards to both the opportunities tourism presents and the challenges that will need to be addressed in the near future. In order to underpin a critical appraisal of future challenges, this paper reviews the history of modern tourism in Iceland with a focus on policy and entrepreneurship in tourism. It describes the characteristics of tourism in Iceland and its development, and critically illustrates some of the main challenges the tourism industry in Iceland is facing. In so doing, the paper seeks to add to the understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing cold-water island destinations that are experiencing significant growth in tourism.

AB - Although island tourism in general has long been considered within the tourism literature, attention has been focused primarily on warm-water islands; conversely, limited attention has been paid to cold-water islands as destinations for tourists. This paper assesses the development of tourism in one such destination, Iceland, and discusses its history and the challenges confronting it. Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Icelandic economy. Tourism arrivals have multiplied in recent years, doubling, for instance, in the ten-year c has prompted rapid expansion in the tourism sector, invoking questions with regards to both the opportunities tourism presents and the challenges that will need to be addressed in the near future. In order to underpin a critical appraisal of future challenges, this paper reviews the history of modern tourism in Iceland with a focus on policy and entrepreneurship in tourism. It describes the characteristics of tourism in Iceland and its development, and critically illustrates some of the main challenges the tourism industry in Iceland is facing. In so doing, the paper seeks to add to the understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing cold-water island destinations that are experiencing significant growth in tourism.

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KW - Iceland

KW - Sociosustainability

KW - Tourism development

KW - Tourism policy

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DO - 10.1080/14616680903493670

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VL - 12

SP - 278

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JO - Tourism Geographies

JF - Tourism Geographies

IS - 2

ER -

Icelandic tourism: Past directions - future challenges

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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