Record number of cruise ships will visit the town of Ísafjörður in the Westfjords this summer: 110 ships will dock this summer, compared to 95 ships in 2017. The local news site Bæjarins besta reports that a new record will probably be set in 2019, as 109 ships have already announced they will be visiting next year.
Locals object to the number of ships
Not all locals are entirely pleased with this development. The National Broadcasting Service reports that a poll of local residents reveals that more than 60% feel that the number of cruise ships who visit the small town during summer is too high or much too high. Only 5% of residents feel that too few cruise ships visit the town.
The small town of 2,500 people has become a popular stop for cruise ships in recent years. In 2006 the number of ships visiting the town was only 22. The 110 ships which will visit Ísafjörður this year is expected to bring more than 80,000 travellers into the small town.
Read more: Residents in Westfjords fishing town debate how to deal with window-peeking visitors
Most residents feel that the concentration of cruise ship visits in the peak months of summer is problematic, with 70% saying that cruise ships bring too many visitors into town during summer, while a majority feels that there are too few visitors in the fall, spring or winter.
While most residents feel that too many ships visit the town only 35% say that they have a negative impact on the town. 40% say that cruise ship visitors have a positive impact on the town, while 25% say that they have neither a positive nor a negative impact. Nearly a fifth of respondents say that they or the company they work with benefit directly from visitors who come with cruise ships.
Record number of cruise ships will visit the town of Ísafjörður in the Westfjords this summer: 110 ships will dock this summer, compared to 95 ships in 2017. The local news site Bæjarins besta reports that a new record will probably be set in 2019, as 109 ships have already announced they will be visiting next year.
Locals object to the number of ships
Not all locals are entirely pleased with this development. The National Broadcasting Service reports that a poll of local residents reveals that more than 60% feel that the number of cruise ships who visit the small town during summer is too high or much too high. Only 5% of residents feel that too few cruise ships visit the town.
The small town of 2,500 people has become a popular stop for cruise ships in recent years. In 2006 the number of ships visiting the town was only 22. The 110 ships which will visit Ísafjörður this year is expected to bring more than 80,000 travellers into the small town.
Read more: Residents in Westfjords fishing town debate how to deal with window-peeking visitors
Most residents feel that the concentration of cruise ship visits in the peak months of summer is problematic, with 70% saying that cruise ships bring too many visitors into town during summer, while a majority feels that there are too few visitors in the fall, spring or winter.
While most residents feel that too many ships visit the town only 35% say that they have a negative impact on the town. 40% say that cruise ship visitors have a positive impact on the town, while 25% say that they have neither a positive nor a negative impact. Nearly a fifth of respondents say that they or the company they work with benefit directly from visitors who come with cruise ships.
