A year-round wonder: How Iceland found its balance between tourism and tranquillity

The "land of occurrence and ice" is often imagined arsenic a spot of glaciers, geothermal basking springs, waterfalls, volcanoes and nan elusive bluish lights - a destination for thrill-seekers ticking disconnected bucket-list experiences.

But arsenic Oddný Arnarsdóttir, caput of Visit Iceland, explains, nan country’s existent communicative is astir a deliberate, sustainable translator of tourism.

“Since 2018, nan numbers person much aliases little been nan aforesaid - of course, too nan COVID years,” she tells Euronews Travel astatine this year's World Travel Market successful London.

“We person betwixt 2.1 and 2.3 cardinal group visiting america connected a yearly basis. There was maturation during a definite clip period, but what’s truthful important to found is that we went from being a three-month destination to a year-round destination, meaning 65 per cent of nan maturation was really off-season."

The Nordic state has worked to dispersed tourism much evenly crossed nan year, extracurricular of nan highest season, while encouraging visitors to research beyond nan well-trodden Golden Circle.

Infrastructure improvements, location improvement and community-led initiatives person ensured that tourism benefits locals arsenic good arsenic visitors.

“People are moving back, tourism has brought employment to group and caller activities astir nan country,” Arnarsdóttir notes.

Nature, wellness and exquisite section flavours

Visitors tin now research caller volcanic-themed attractions, wellness retreats for illustration nan Sky Lagoon successful Kópavogur and increasing accommodation options successful bluish towns specified arsenic Akureyri. This diversification encourages travellers to walk longer and task further, reducing unit connected accepted hotspots, for illustration nan capital, Reykjavík.

Culinary tourism has besides taken off. Three Michelin-starred restaurants, including 1 recognised for greenish practices, awesome nan country’s committedness to value and responsible tourism.

“We’re fortunate to person specified caller ingredients - nan fish, for example, is incredible… Then there’s nan lamb that roams free successful summer, and vegetables grown successful greenhouses. Today, you tin find awesome restaurants each complete nan country."

Dill, possibly Iceland’s best-known restaurant, was nan first successful nan state to summation a coveted star, pinch dishes inspired by nan section landscape. The friendly Óx, which seats conscionable 17 diners astatine a time, joined nan ranks successful 2022. Moss Restaurant, astatine The Retreat astatine Blue Lagoon, became nan country’s first edifice edifice to gain a Michelin prima successful 2023, pinch a seasonal seven-course tasting paper blending Icelandic ingredients and Asian influences.

"A beardown respect for nature"

Sustainability is besides essential: "Iceland is, successful its core, sustainable - pinch renewable power and a beardown respect for nature, which is our biggest attraction and asset."

“Tourism and sustainability spell manus successful hand. We talk astir nan 4 pillars of sustainability: nan economy, nan environment, nan locals, and our visitors. In tourism, 1 doesn’t spell without nan other," Arnarsdóttir explains.

The wellness and hospitality assemblage exemplifies this ethos pinch geothermal spas built into nan landscape, locally originated supplies and cautiously designed visitant experiences that time off minimal biology impact.

An Icelander’s proposal for visitors

For those readying a trip, Arnarsdóttir urges a slower, much section approach: attraction connected 1 aliases 2 regions alternatively than racing done nan full state and clasp taste traditions.

"And if you travel connected 13 December, you’ll meet nan Yule Lads - that mightiness beryllium thing to experience!"

Wondering who connected world nan Yule Lads are? Let’s conscionable opportunity it’s 1 of those Icelandic secrets you’ll person to witnesser successful person.