Direct flights between China and Iceland could significantly increase visitor numbers and strengthen tourism outside the summer peak, although the industry says authorities should remain alert to potential regulatory challenges.
The comments come as Air China prepares to launch scheduled services to Iceland, with the Chinese Embassy expected to announce the inaugural flight date and ticket sales shortly.
What’s the Story?
Original source: Vísir
- Iceland’s tourism industry expects direct flights from China to boost visitor numbers.
- Chinese tourists have traditionally been important during Iceland’s winter, autumn, and spring seasons.
- Industry leaders say regulators should monitor compliance by foreign tour operators.
Year-Round Potential
Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, managing director of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association, said around 120,000 Chinese tourists visited Iceland annually before recent disruptions, making them one of the country’s most important winter visitor groups alongside travellers from the United States and the United Kingdom.
He said Chinese holidays, including Lunar New Year and Golden Week, have traditionally brought visitors during February and October rather than the busy summer months. If Air China operates direct flights throughout the year, he said, arrivals could become more evenly spread and potentially double within a relatively short period.
Jóhannes also expects Air China and Chinese travel agencies to invest heavily in promoting Iceland, describing it as a market the country itself has historically done little to target.
While Jóhannes believes Iceland’s tourism sector is well prepared to welcome more Chinese visitors after years of experience serving the market, he noted that travellers from China are far from a uniform group, with differing travel preferences and expectations depending on region and whether they travel independently or as part of organised tours.
He added that industry organisations and regulators would monitor compliance with Icelandic rules, citing previous cases involving foreign tour operators using unlicensed guides or drivers.
However, he also stressed the issue is not unique to Chinese companies and said there is no certainty such problems will increase with the introduction of direct flights.
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