According to the National Broadcasting Service, landowners in Reykjahlíð, north Iceland, intend to collect an entrance fee of 800 krónur (5 euros/ 7 dollars) to Dettifoss waterfall, Leirhnjúkur volcano and the hot springs located east of Námafjall mountain this summer. However, only international tourists will be charged the 800 kr entrance fee, should it become a reality.
According to Ólafur H. Jónsson, chairman of the Reykjahlíð Landowners’ Association, landowners plan to reassess their fee policy when the government has reached a final conclusion regarding the matter.
We need to protect the nature and that is why we cannot wait much longer with imposing the entrance fee.”
Ólafur maintains that the aforementioned sites are being marred by the ever increasing number of tourists visiting the scenic spots each year and fears they will be destroyed beyond repair if measures are not taken soon. The revenue from the sale of tickets will be used to repair and maintain the sites, as well as to improve tourist facilities.
The Icelandic Tourist Board has expressed strong disapproval on the controversial entrance fee and notes that excluding domestic tourists from paying the fee violates EEA agreements. Ólafur on the other hand claims the act is temporary and done in a bid to try and protect the natural wonders in the area.
“We need to protect the nature and that is why we cannot wait much longer with imposing the entrance fee,” he concludes.
Landowners in Reykjahlíð in the Mývatn district, north Iceland, have decided to exclude domestic tourists from paying an entrance fee to visit the area this summer. Further actions will depend on whether or not the Icelandic government decides to impose a fee policy on all popular tourist attractions.
According to the National Broadcasting Service, landowners in Reykjahlíð, north Iceland, intend to collect an entrance fee of 800 krónur (5 euros/ 7 dollars) to Dettifoss waterfall, Leirhnjúkur volcano and the hot springs located east of Námafjall mountain this summer. However, only international tourists will be charged the 800 kr entrance fee, should it become a reality.
According to Ólafur H. Jónsson, chairman of the Reykjahlíð Landowners’ Association, landowners plan to reassess their fee policy when the government has reached a final conclusion regarding the matter.
We need to protect the nature and that is why we cannot wait much longer with imposing the entrance fee.”
Ólafur maintains that the aforementioned sites are being marred by the ever increasing number of tourists visiting the scenic spots each year and fears they will be destroyed beyond repair if measures are not taken soon. The revenue from the sale of tickets will be used to repair and maintain the sites, as well as to improve tourist facilities.
The Icelandic Tourist Board has expressed strong disapproval on the controversial entrance fee and notes that excluding domestic tourists from paying the fee violates EEA agreements. Ólafur on the other hand claims the act is temporary and done in a bid to try and protect the natural wonders in the area.
“We need to protect the nature and that is why we cannot wait much longer with imposing the entrance fee,” he concludes.
