Bolstering ecotourism in East Greenland

East Greenland is like no other place on Earth. Its enormous glaciers, deep fjords and rugged terrain has kept it relatively isolated from the rest of the country—and from the world. Its remoteness also means it’s sparsely populated, with only about 16 per cent of Greenland’s population living there.

Most of the 3,500 residents who call East Greenland home follow a traditional way of living. They have always turned to the ocean for their food, hunting ringed seals as well as beluga and narwhal. But is becoming harder as climate change puts pressure on marine populations and whale hunting bans and quotas are increasingly being introduced in the country.

More and more, tourism is being viewed as a way to bolster the economy and provide residents with much-needed jobs. The big question: How to expand East Greenland’s tourism industry without harming the pristine environment that makes the region special?

Looking to tourism to fuel the economy

To ensure tourism in East Greenland grows in a way that is sustainable for both the people and species that live there, WWF is looking to Iceland for inspiration. Just 300 kilometres across the Denmark Strait, Iceland has a flourishing nature-based tourism industry. In fact, since 2010, the number of tourists visiting the country each year has quadrupled.

Sustainability in tourism is about preserving the environment so that tourists will also appreciate it. We can showcase nature and culture, and tourism supports culturally sustaining initiatives.

– Rasmus Poulsen, owner, Tasiilaq Tours

Whale watching is big business in Iceland. One in five tourists who visit the country take part in the activity, generating approximately $USD12 million annually. And if you want to get a close up look at whales in Iceland, the picturesque town of Húsavík is the place to go—making a must-see destination for the group of East Greenlanders.

To get a taste of what whale watching in Iceland has to offer, the group headed out on the Nàttfari, one of North Sailing’s 11 boats. Back when North Sailing got started in 1995, it was the only whale -watching company in town. Today, they are one of four.

What sets North Sailing apart is that it focuses on having as little impact as possible on the whales and their environment. The company uses beautiful, old restored fishing vessels, and its guides are all students with an interest in whales, such as marine biologists or veterinary students. To reduce underwater noise, North Sailing has also worked with other Icelandic and Nordic partners to develop a new electrical system that allows wind power to charge their boats’ electric engines.

I saw the influence of mass tourism, where many boats chased the same whale, which wasn’t an authentic experience. At home, we offer more personal tours, approaching the whales respectfully and without unnecessary disturbance.

– Rasmus Poulsen, owner, Tasiilaq Tours

Looking to educate tourists

While in Húsavík, the group also visited the town’s other big attraction: the Whale Museum. Overlooking Húsavík’s colorful harbour, the museum is one of the most-visited places in northern Iceland, attracting some 40,000 visitors each year. Although it started out small when it opened its doors in 1997, today it houses 11 whale skeletons scattered over two floors, including a whale skeleton that is 25 metres long. For the group of East Greenlanders, the museum was one of the highlights of the trip, opening their eyes to the possibility of adding this type of tourist attraction in Tasiilaq as a way to educate visitors and promote conservation.

There are definitely elements that could be implemented at home, such as museums or educational centers. But we also need to think about how we can do this in a way that suits our local community and resources.

– Rasmus Poulsen, owner, Tasiilaq Tours

Working together to build a stronger tourism industry

One of the group’s biggest takeaways was how those in Iceland’s tourism industry work together to understand both the benefits and potential negative impacts of their activities—something that needs to be taken into account when expanding tourism in East Greenland.

The strong collaboration between different companies and organizations in Iceland was inspiring.

– Anthon Salomonsen, Hotel Angmassalik, Tasiilaq

For instance, to ensure that whale watching tours don’t have harmful effects on the whales and their habitat, Iceland’s tour operators created IceWhale. The organization has developed a code of conduct for tour operators, with the aim of increasing the sustainability of whale watching in Iceland. They also hold campaigns to educate tourists about whale conservation efforts. One example is the “Meet Us Don’t Eat Us” project, which works to dissuade visitors from consuming whale meat and seeks to gain their support to protect whales by ending commercial whaling.

Another big takeaway from the group’s visit to Iceland was the need for education. Most East Greenlanders only speak Tunumiisut, or East Greenlandic. Very few people speak Danish, let alone English. To build tourism in the region, language education needs to be offered, especially for young people interested in working in the industry. Those in the industry also need to learn more about tourism practices, such as marketing, pricing and product positioning. Iceland’s Hóldar University plans to offer a one-year tourism diploma course in English, which could be a future option for East Greenlanders interested in working in the industry.

The tour gave me new inspiration and insight into how things can be done differently. It’s important to bring these ideas home and adapt them to our own context to create a sustainable and rewarding tourist experience.

-Rasmus Poulsen, owner, Tasiilaq Tours