Photographs and videos of foreign travellers ignoring warning signs which close a walking path leading to Gullfoss waterfall have caused quite a stir in Iceland over the weekend. Photographs of travellers crossing a chain link fence and Police tape telling people not to cross onto the path, have been shared on social media, as well as being published by all major news outlets. Many fear it is only a question of time before a serious accident takes place. A local guide warns that the tourism industry will suffer if the authorities don’t step in immediately to ensure the safety of travellers.
A video shot on Saturday March 5 shows where travellers either climb over or push under the chain link fence closing the path leading up to the cliff by Gullfoss waterfall. The travellers, some with small children in their arms, then walked right up to the edge of the canyon. As can be seen in the video the conditions by the waterfall were not ideal, with people clearly having a hard time finding their footing due to snow and ice.
Read more: Photos: Visitors at Gullfoss waterfall stubbornly ignore warnings, venturing onto a closed path
A local guide, Hermann Valsson, who took the video and photographs in this story, told the local news site visir.is that the authorities must step in to ensure the safety of foreign visitors: “There has been a conversation among us in the tour guide profession about the situation which has developed, and we all agree it is necessary to increase safety and security at popular sites. We need more guards to ensure things go well.”
However, Hermann does not fault the travellers, who he argues are only trying to get as close to the sites and sights that drew them to Iceland in the first place. “We have promised people a beautiful view a one of a kind experience, and people are not getting this experience, for example when they come to Gullfoss waterfall and can’t access the waterfall.” The authorities should ensure the most popular destinations are accessible.
Photographs and videos of foreign travellers ignoring warning signs which close a walking path leading to Gullfoss waterfall have caused quite a stir in Iceland over the weekend. Photographs of travellers crossing a chain link fence and Police tape telling people not to cross onto the path, have been shared on social media, as well as being published by all major news outlets. Many fear it is only a question of time before a serious accident takes place. A local guide warns that the tourism industry will suffer if the authorities don’t step in immediately to ensure the safety of travellers.
A video shot on Saturday March 5 shows where travellers either climb over or push under the chain link fence closing the path leading up to the cliff by Gullfoss waterfall. The travellers, some with small children in their arms, then walked right up to the edge of the canyon. As can be seen in the video the conditions by the waterfall were not ideal, with people clearly having a hard time finding their footing due to snow and ice.
Read more: Photos: Visitors at Gullfoss waterfall stubbornly ignore warnings, venturing onto a closed path
A local guide, Hermann Valsson, who took the video and photographs in this story, told the local news site visir.is that the authorities must step in to ensure the safety of foreign visitors: “There has been a conversation among us in the tour guide profession about the situation which has developed, and we all agree it is necessary to increase safety and security at popular sites. We need more guards to ensure things go well.”
However, Hermann does not fault the travellers, who he argues are only trying to get as close to the sites and sights that drew them to Iceland in the first place. “We have promised people a beautiful view a one of a kind experience, and people are not getting this experience, for example when they come to Gullfoss waterfall and can’t access the waterfall.” The authorities should ensure the most popular destinations are accessible.
