Minister of Industry and Travel Össur Skarphédinsson wants to increase the state’s annual contribution to marketing Iceland as a tourist destination abroad to ISK 120 million (USD 1.5 million, EUR 1.0 million), four times the current amount.
The minister wants the next national budget to include the increase and then increase the funds for marketing Iceland gradually every year, Morgunbladid reports.
Skarphédinsson said that companies involved in the Icelandic tourism industry would also have to contribute to promoting Iceland abroad and meet the state midway.
Iceland’s Prime Ministry recently launched the project “Promote Iceland” with the purpose of strengthening Iceland’s image in foreign countries.
Skarphédinsson believes Iceland can be marketed in a much more efficient way than until now, but worries that the upcoming strike by air traffic controllers will harm the country’s image.
An international economic downswing and extensive price increases of fuel could also damage the Icelandic tourist industry if authorities do not organize counter measures, the minister said.
