Tourism industry calling for new legal framework

Some 110,000 tourists will visit the Faroe Islands this year, contributing with DKK 800,000 to the national economy.

With visitor numbers increasing every year, it looks as if Visit Faroe Islands’ target of a DKK 1 billion tourist contribution by 2020 will be met. That is the positive side of the story.

But the booming tourism industry has also created an urgent need for clear rules on charging people for walking in the Faroese countryside, as the recent introduction of charges for visiting numerous tourist hotspots around the country is damaging the country’s reputation as a tourist destination.

New laws needed

“The lack of general structure is a major challenge to our tourism industry,” says Jóhan Pauli Helgason, development manager at Visit Faroe Islands.

“We now need a clear legal framework on when, where and how we charge the people who come to our islands. We need a law that clearly defines the rights and duties of locals and tourists.”

One solution, according to Visit Faroe Islands, would be to introduce a one-off nature charge for tourists as an alternative to toll gates, which have proved unpopular with visitors.

A complex issue

The income from this charge would go into a nature preservation fund, which would finance maintenance work in the countryside.

It is, however, not easy to reach agreement on how to implement such a charge.

“The simplest thing would be to charge tourists and locals alike, but that may not go down well with the locals,” says Helgason. “So maybe adding a fixed charge to flight or cruise tickets to the Faroe Islands could be a decent option.”

Translated by prosa.fo