The editor of Heimildin, Ingibjörg Dögg Kjartansdóttir, has voiced strong concerns over the ongoing strain mass tourism places on Icelandic society and infrastructure.
Speaking on Bylgjan radio, Ingibjörg brought up the pressures on smaller towns like Vík í Mýrdal to illustrate her point. For one, she claimed the village’s sewage system is unable to cope with the influx of visitors, which occasionally leaves the area with a foul smell.
Beyond that, the latest edition of Heimildin reports that even funerals in Vík have been disrupted by intrusive tourists looking to visit the town’s church.
As reported by Vísir, she also said some locals are now forced to drive to Selfoss for groceries, as local shops increasingly cater only to tourists.
No clear industry framework
“What I experience very strongly when I travel around Iceland is that there is a definite disconnect between many Icelanders and the tourism industry, where all signs are in English, services are in English, and entertainment is aimed at tourists,” she said during the interview.
She also criticised the government’s failure to establish a clear framework for the industry, which she believes has grown too fast.
While acknowledging tourism’s economic value, she warned: “We are paying for this with changes in society and changes in nature.”
