Tourists at Snæfellsjökull. Photo copyright Icelandic Photo Agency.
Managing director of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF) Erna Hauksdóttir told Fréttablaðið that there are obvious sings of winter tourism being on the increase in Iceland, which is the result of effective marketing initiatives.
“It’s the second winter in a row where we’ve promoted Iceland as a year-round destination,” said Erna, adding the traffic isn’t evenly spread around the country. “Reykjavík is naturally quite busy.”
This isn’t always the case outside the capital region, she stated, although some areas have reported influx in tourists. These include North Iceland, popular for northern lights tours.
According to Erna, the market is sensitive because every country wants to boost winter tourism and the competition for each tourist is tough.
“There are all sorts of special offers and discounts… because as soon as the traveler has arrived he or she will spend money which is important for the national economy,” she explains.
Norwegians are known for shopping in Iceland. When asked whether they are sought after because of that, Erna responds, “Of course everyone realizes that the purchasing power of Norwegians is good and they’re used to high pricing. They are welcome visitors and come here often.”
Click here to read more about the popularity of northern lights tours.
ESA
