Riccardo Liguori With its 56,000 inhabitants, the largest island in the world opens up to mass tourism with the inauguration of the new Nuuk airport and direct flights from the United States, Canada, Iceland and Denmark. It is estimated that the number of visitors will double, from 55,000 to 105,000
With the opening of Nuuk’s new international airport on November 28, 2023, and promises of direct flights from the United States, Canada, Iceland, and Denmark starting in 2025, Greenland (population: 56,000) is preparing for a tourism tsunami. And two more airports are coming online in 2026. But is this really the right track?
The excitement of new American money is muted by concerns of mass tourism and its effects on a fragile ecosystem and a culture that stretches back millennia. A new law on tourism that restricts foreign investments and requires local ownership has generated both debate and disquiet.
A fragile ecosystem under pressure
The ecosystem of Greenland is peculiar—and fragile. Rising temperatures and melting ice are already a pressing issue, but the arrival of a steady stream of tourists could exacerbate the situation. Tourism is expected to double in the next year from the current 56,000 to 105,000 visitors.
The environmental impact of mass tourism includes pollution, waste production, and increased demand for water and energy resources. Without proper planning and management, there’s a real risk of upsetting the island’s delicate balance. Greenland has just 56 miles of paved roads, making infrastructure limitations an additional challenge. Moreover, the threat of wildfires is real; in the summer of 2019, a fire in the Qeqqata region burned 2 square miles of land.
A Divisive Tourism Law Some 89 percent of Greenland’s population is of Inuit origin. Although surveys suggest powerful support for the increase in tourism, many locals fear a loss of cultural identity and that their land is being exploited by foreign interests.
The new tourism law, which comes into effect on January 1, 2024, tries to balance these issues with stringent rules on foreign investments. For example, tourism licenses will only be issued to businesses registered and taxed in Greenland, and at least two-thirds of a limited company’s capital should be owned by locals. Critics, however, say that such protectionist measures might hamper the development of infrastructure required for sustainable tourism growth.
Greenland’s future: a delicate balance
Balancing economic development and environment or social sustainability is quite paramount. According to Anne Nivíka, CEO of Visit Greenland, she hinted in The Guardian: “There’s rising interest in global demand to visit Arctic destinations amid awareness over climate change for amazing experience.”
An alternative to mass tourism could be niche tourism, focusing on authentic, low-impact experiences. For instance, cultural tourism allows visitors to explore Inuit history and traditions, while scientific tourism offers opportunities to observe Arctic flora and fauna and participate in climate change research.
As CNN highlighted, “Greenland is not something you visit. It’s something that happens to you.” Christian Keldsen, director of the Greenland Business Association, also told The Guardian: “Greenland wants control over this evolution.” This control needs to be translated into a long-term strategy that prioritizes quality over quantity, ensures environmental protection, and promotes the well-being of local communities.
