A study conducted by the polling firm Maskína on behalf of Visit Reykjavík demonstrates that despite a dramatic increase in the number of foreign visitors, locals continue to view foreign visitors positively. Only 5.5% of the residents of the capital region are negative toward foreign visitors, compared to 94.5% who see tourism‘s benefits greatly outweighing any negative impact.
Read more: A larger portion of Icelanders fear growing tourism threatens to damage Icelandic nature
The poll also seems to suggest that positive views of tourists increase with increasing direct contact with tourists. 95% of people who live in the centre of town believe foreign visitors are polite and pleasant in person. Overall the residents of the capital region believe foreign visitors are courteous and respectful in their interactions with local residents.
Although the overwhelming majority of Reykjavík residents view tourism positively the poll found a slight drop in positive attitudes since last year when 96.7% said they viewed tourism positively. At the same time the number of foreign visitors in Iceland has skyrocketed. According to data from the Icelandic Tourism Board 35% more foreign visitors came to Iceland during the first four months of 2016, compared to 2015. This is the second time Visit Reykjavík polls local residents on their views of tourism.
Tourism brings too many “puffin shops”
Locals seem to agree that tourism has brought with it both economic and cultural benefits. 84% believed tourism had a positive impact on Reykjavík, with 96% said they felt tourism had increased the number of restaurants and cafés and 60% felt tourism had expanded the supply of various cultural activities.
Read more: Labour shortage looming in the tourism and construction industries in Iceland
The only noticeable negative attitudes which can be gleaned from the poll is that while 74% believed tourism had had a positive economic impact on retail in the city, 43% felt it had made retail in Reykjavík less diverse. This finding echoes growing concerns among many that there are too many souvenir and tourist stores in downtown Reykjavík. Locals refer to these stores as “puffin shops”, because they tend to sell various puffin themed items.
A study conducted by the polling firm Maskína on behalf of Visit Reykjavík demonstrates that despite a dramatic increase in the number of foreign visitors, locals continue to view foreign visitors positively. Only 5.5% of the residents of the capital region are negative toward foreign visitors, compared to 94.5% who see tourism‘s benefits greatly outweighing any negative impact.
Read more: A larger portion of Icelanders fear growing tourism threatens to damage Icelandic nature
The poll also seems to suggest that positive views of tourists increase with increasing direct contact with tourists. 95% of people who live in the centre of town believe foreign visitors are polite and pleasant in person. Overall the residents of the capital region believe foreign visitors are courteous and respectful in their interactions with local residents.
Although the overwhelming majority of Reykjavík residents view tourism positively the poll found a slight drop in positive attitudes since last year when 96.7% said they viewed tourism positively. At the same time the number of foreign visitors in Iceland has skyrocketed. According to data from the Icelandic Tourism Board 35% more foreign visitors came to Iceland during the first four months of 2016, compared to 2015. This is the second time Visit Reykjavík polls local residents on their views of tourism.
Tourism brings too many “puffin shops”
Locals seem to agree that tourism has brought with it both economic and cultural benefits. 84% believed tourism had a positive impact on Reykjavík, with 96% said they felt tourism had increased the number of restaurants and cafés and 60% felt tourism had expanded the supply of various cultural activities.
Read more: Labour shortage looming in the tourism and construction industries in Iceland
The only noticeable negative attitudes which can be gleaned from the poll is that while 74% believed tourism had had a positive economic impact on retail in the city, 43% felt it had made retail in Reykjavík less diverse. This finding echoes growing concerns among many that there are too many souvenir and tourist stores in downtown Reykjavík. Locals refer to these stores as “puffin shops”, because they tend to sell various puffin themed items.
