The number of tourists in Iceland has been going up almost every year and a forecast by Arion bank predicts that the number will be about 750 thousand in 2013, increase over 800 thousand in 2014 and go up to 870 thousand in 2015.
Tourists by Snæfellsjökull. Photo IPA
Three out of every four tourists visit the Golden Circle, including Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir and Thingvellir. This worries many in the tourist services who think that many of the most popular places can’t take any more tourists unless conditions are improved. This may require an entrance fee to many of the sights or a pass that everyone would be required to buy if he wants to visit certain places. The new Minister of the Interior, Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, is contemplating such a move for next year.
In recent years the number of tourists in winter has been going up. This gives new opportunities for tour operators and hotel owners since the utilization of facilities goes up.
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