The collection of a planned entrance fee to the erupting hot spring Geysir in South Iceland is unlawful according to experts in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, ruv.is reports.
Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.
Yesterday it was announced that the private landowners of the area plan to begin charging an entrance fee of ISK 1,000 (USD 8.50, EUR 6.50) this summer, which they say will be used for daily cleaning and maintenance of the area as well as compensation due to stress on the area due to the large number of visitors. Up to 600,000 people visited Geysir last year.
However, according to the committee, the Icelandic State owns a large part of the land and therefore it is unlawful for the landowners to make a unilateral decision about implementing a fee. Funds, the committee says, should come from implementing a nature pass system or other methods.
Tourism Minister Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir has expressed her opposition to an entrance fee, reasoning that the introduction of a nature pass will better serve nature protection and development of destinations.
Related:
04.11.2013 | Seventy Percent of Icelanders Support Entrance Fee
31.10.2013 | Fee to South Iceland Geothermal Area “not Reason for Fewer Tourists”
29.10.2013 | Tourism Minister against Admission Fee at Geysir
ZR
